42 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



that underground irrigation will become universal in the near 

 future, over all this State. It is certainly the most natural 

 method now known of applying water for the purposes of irri- 

 gation. In this utilitarian age in which we live, cheapness, econ- 

 omy and simplicity go hand in hand with the introduction of all 

 useful and labor-saving appliances, in all departments of life. 



The following editorial on the subject of underground irri- 

 gation is from the Southern California Horticulturist: 



"The system of underground irrigation, by which the water is 

 supplied by means of pipes laid eighteen inches below the sur- 

 face, though used in older countries when irrigation is neces- 

 sary, has but recently been introduced into Southern California, 

 and it is yet an experiment here.* 



"We lately visited the place of E. M. Hamilton, of East Los 

 Angeles, to examine the system now being introduced by him. 

 We found a two-acre orchard, the trees of which were set in the 

 spring of 1877. A well, a windmill and a reservoir holding 

 some 40,000 gallons were at the upper corner of the orchard. 

 His well is sixty feet deep, and a twelve-foot windmill lifts 

 about 5,000 gallons per day. 



"A system of asbestine stone pipe is laid throughout the 

 orchard, with a system of valves and hydrants so arranged that 

 the entire orchard can be irrigated at once, and the water can 

 run as long as desirable, without putting a single drop on the 

 surface of the soil. A pipe is run from the main, down along 

 each row of trees. Plastered into the upper side of the pipe, 

 opposite to each tree, is a manufactured stone plug through 

 which there is a quarter-inch hole. This hole is loosely plugged, 

 so as to allow a seepage when the water is turned on. A piece 

 of pipe is stood on end over this plug, to keep the soil from 

 coming in contact with the hydrant. This piece of pipe comes 

 a few inches above the surface of the ground. The operator 

 can visit each hydrant as the irrigation is going on, aud see just 

 how much water is escaping; if too much or not enough, the 

 flow can be easily regulated. 



* Since the above was written the matter of experiment has developed to 

 a practical certainty, that sub-irrigation is the system that will soon be uni- 

 versally used. November, 1881. 



