146 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



thickness of the concrete. The form for larger canals 

 is similar to the earth form. It is placed on the bottom 

 of the finished earth ditch and properly aligned; the 

 concrete, which is mixed rather wet, is now thrown 

 in the space between the form and the earth and well 

 tamped. The side lining having been completed, the 

 form is removed and the bottom lining put on. Wher- 

 ever possible the concrete is kept wet while setting 

 by allowing water to run in the ditch, and retaining it 

 by earth dams. 



The concrete is made of one part of cement to 

 seven parts of coarse gravel of varying size. 



The main canal which is lined has a bottom width 

 of 5 feet, a depth of 4J^ feet, side slopes of y 2 on 1, 

 and the thickness of the lining is 4 inches. The cost 

 per square foot was approximately 10% cents. The 

 cost of cement was $2.85 per barrel. The cost of gravel 

 was 60 cents per cubic yard, and the price of labor 

 used in finishing the ditch $1.75 per day. The price 

 of labor in concreting the ditch was $2.00, foreman 

 $3.00 per day. For a smaller canal of 1% feet width, 

 3 feet deep, slopes of % on 1, the thickness of the 

 lining was 3 inches for the sides and 4 inches for the 

 bottom, and curved or reinforced corners. The cost 

 was 11.4 cents per square foot, including excavation. 

 The cost of labor and material was higher cement 

 $3.30 per barrel, gravel $1.00 per square yard, and all 

 labor $2.00 per day. The approximate cost for finish- 

 ing the sides and bottom and for lining (excluding 

 the main excavation) would be 10 cents per square foot 

 for a 4-inch lining. A corresponding cost for a 3-inch 

 lining (including finishing and lining) would be about 

 8 cents per square foot. 



Some of the smaller laterals are 8 inches at the 

 bottom and 18 inches in depth, side slopes y 2 on 1. 

 A lining 2 inches thick costs nearly 6 cents per square 

 foot. 



The Santa Ana Valley Company has lined a por- 

 tion of its main canal above the town of Olive, in 

 Orange county (Fig. 5.) ; the lining is a good example 

 of this kind of work. The canal is 10% feet wide 

 at the bottom, 4% feet deep, and 15 feet wide at the 

 top. The lining is 2^2 to 3 inches in thickness and 

 was constructed in very much the same manner as 

 the work of the Anaheim Union Water Company. The 

 cost of preparing the sides and bottom for the concrete 

 lining and of lining was 8 cents per square foot. 

 (To be Continued.) 



FEDERATION OF TREE GROWING CLUBS OF 

 AMERICA. 



BY H. A. GREENE, PRESIDENT, MONTEREY, CAL. 



From the frequency with which we come across 

 articles upon the subject of forestry in newspapers 

 and magazines, it. is clear that a general interest has 

 been awakened and we are commencing to realize that 

 we have too long neglected to conserve our natural 

 resources in this country. 



About sixty-five per cent of the standing timber of 

 our country is on the Pacific coast, and that is fast 

 disappearing. In twenty years our firewood has con- 

 siderably more than doubled in value in most locali- 

 ties and promises to exceed that advance in the next 

 two decades. 



Many people have tried to grow forest trees, but 

 mostly with indifferent success, unless we except, in so 

 far as California is concerned, a few eucalyptus groves. 



Until now there has never been a simple method 

 suggested by which old and young alike may grow 

 useful trees successfully without tedious labor; then, 

 besides a place for a nursery is not always convenient 

 to a majority of those most likely to have a desire to 

 become sylviculturists. 



The method above alluded to has been given to 

 the public through the Monterey Tree Growing Club, 

 of Monterey, Cal., and in a few months many such 

 clubs have been organized with a like motto as theirs, 

 viz., "Useful Effort." 



A useful association has been formed, known as 

 the Federation of Tree Growing Clubs of America, 

 with headquarters at 112 Dearborn street, Chicago, and 

 the monthly magazine, THE IRRIGATION AGE of that 

 city has been made the official organ of the federation. 



Except through proper organization it is unlikely 

 that this very easy way of growing trees would have 

 become known to many people, nor would the aims of 

 the original promoters, aside from their ambition to 

 be the means of restoring our depleted timber supply, 

 have taken root. 



The further aims of the tree growing clubs is to 

 interest our school children in arboriculture, and 

 through it attempt to make better men and women of 

 them. It was determined by actual experience that a 

 marked change was noted among children who had 

 been induced to try tree growing as a pastime. 



As their seeds sent forth a little tender sprout, 

 the event became to them of interesting importance, 

 and was repeated with increased fervor when leaves 

 quickly unfolded from the shoot. Other children, by 

 example, found some acorns readily, and planted them. 



After four months some of the baby oaks had 

 four leaves, while others that had been neglected made 

 but a poor showing. 



The school children committees of clubs are ex- 

 pected to occasionally have lectures on forestry and 

 kindred subjects, delivered to each of the classes in 

 the public schools, and afterwards give instructions in 

 tree growing. Prizes are to be offered for best showing 

 in each class, which will start the thing going. 



Arbor Day will be made what its promoters in- 

 tended only when planters have grown their own trees. 



Seed Gathering Day is another school holiday 

 suggested for the fall of the year by the federation 

 officers. 



By co-operation with the school teachers these two 

 days may be made memorable, instructive and merry. 



Our children's aid is necessary if we desire to 

 restore our wood supply before its cost shall have be- 

 come prohibitive. 



Let the reader plant an acorn (on its side) in a 

 tin can with holes cut in the bottom, bury just under 

 the surface and keep it watered. You are more than 

 likely to become one of us unselfish souls who believe 

 they are redeeming our children by leading them into 

 the practice of useful effort and making their minds 

 feusceptible of ideals and sweet sentiment. 



Does not that appeal to the best streak in you? 

 Get further information from reading THE IRRIGATION 

 AGE, or write to the president of Monterey Tree Grow- 

 ing Club of America, Monterey, Cal. 



