FEATURES AND WATER RIGHTS OF YUBA RIVER. 133 



The crops are generally about two tons to the acre cured, or six tons to the 

 acre per j^ear. The alfalfa has .to be renewed about every six j'ears, due to the 

 growth of water grass and weeds, the seeds of which are introduced in the irrigation 

 water. 



Alfalfa is irrigated b}' flooding — that is, ditches are led along the highest parts of 

 the field, from which water runs down in thin sheets over the adjoining surface. The 

 winter rains are suiBcient to pi'oduce one good crop of alfalfa, but in order to get 

 more than one crop it must be thoroughly irrigated every ten or twelve days during 

 the dry season. The first crop generally requires two irrigations, the second crop 

 three, the third crop four, and the pasture crop two or three, making a total for the 

 j'ear of eleven or twelve irrigations. It may require a few more, or less, depending 

 on the character of the season, slope, and depth of soil, etc. 



Cott of raising alfalfa per acre. 



Preparing Idnd, plowing, harrowing, cross harrowing, and making ditches $5.00 



Seed, 25 pounds at 8 cents 2. 00 



Sowing, harrowing and brushing in 50 



liabor of irrigating (11 irrigations) , 2. 00 



Water at tlie rate of 1 inch to 3 acres, at $2.50 per inch 83 



Total 10.33 



To this is to be added the cost of harvesting the crop. Alfalfa is generally 

 worth $5 a ton in Browns Valley, 



IRRIGATION OF ORCHARDS. 



The following fruits do well: Peaches, apricots, plums, prunes, oranges, figs, 

 pears, almonds, and olives. All of these would j'ield better if more skill and care 

 were taken in cultivation and irrigation. The orchards are generally very poorly 

 kept. The}"^ are cultivated once a year and nothing more is done till the following 

 year. In manj' of the orchards the grass and weeds are 2 feet high. 



The method of applying the water that is most general^ used is as follows: A 

 ditch is dug along each row of trees and the water allowed to run along the ditch; 

 most of the water runs through the ditch and finds its way into the nearest creek, 

 carrying a small percentage of the soil with it. 



Another and better method which was observed in use in a few orchards was to 

 plow the ground so the furrows would be parallel. The ditches were dug along 

 the ridges and in some instances were dug along each row of trees. From the ditches 

 the water was turned into the furrows, and by this method the ground was given a 

 good wetting. 



Most trees require to be irrigated every three or four weeks, oranges every 

 twelve or fourteen days. Irrigation of orchards generally commences in early June 

 and lasts until the fruit is gathered or the first rain comes. 



IRRIGATION OF HAY AND GRAIN. 



Hay and grain are not usually irrigated in this district, although the opinion 

 seems to be that it would pay to do so. In those instances where grain has been 



