DRAINAGE: AND IRRIGATION 



217 



These, and a host of similar considerations, which have made 

 nnderdrainage popular in older countries, are of weight in Cali- 

 fornia. Possibly, as a rule, because of our vast area of deep, kind 

 loams, the proportion of land needed drainage in this State is less 

 than elsewhere, and yet there is a vast extent of country to be 

 improved by tilling. There have been large losses of trees from 

 planting upon soils defective in this respect. The evil has resulted 

 from excessive rainfall and excessive irrigation, either direct or 



Furrower at work in orange orchard of A. D. Bishop. 



by underflow from adjacent irrigations. In some places this latter 

 movement of w r ater has brought alkali to assist in the ruin of the 

 trees and vines. The cure is drainage to sufficient depth and with 

 good outlet for the drainage water. 



Information on the construction of under-drains is too available 

 through other sources to call for its presentation in this connection. 



Drainage and Irrigation. A special importance attaches to com- 

 plete and systematic drainage in connection with irrigation. There 

 is pressing need of such provision where the soil has become over- 

 loaded by seepage water from irrigation ditches, and it is well that 

 people in such situations are waking up to the need of coupling 

 drainage outlets with their irrigation inlets. Another matter closely 



