FEATURES AND WATER RIGHTS OF YUBA RIVER. 135 



than 7 inches above the Vjottoni of the box, he shuts down the gate till he thinks he 

 has about 4 miner's inches running through. It is the intention to deliver the num 

 ber of inches purchased at the ranch line. So if the water has to run some distance 

 from the ditch, as it freq^uently does, the ditch tender guesses at the loss by evapora- 

 tion and seepage and adds that amount to the amount purchased. If the farmer thinks 

 he is not getting as much water as he is paying for, he goes to the ditch and helps 

 himself to all he thinks he is entitled to. It is the custom along some of the ditches 

 to open the gate so that the number of square inches in the opening is equal to the 

 number of miner's inches purchased, the ditch tender claiming that the head averages 

 about 6 inches, being below as often as it is above. 



SEASON OF IRRIGATION. 



There is only one season of irrigation. It commences in April or May and ends 

 with the first rain. It may commence somewhat earlier or later, depending on the 

 amount and lateness of the winter rains. 



SOIL. 



With the exception of the extreme western edge of the district, where there is 

 more or less gi^avel, the soil is nearlv all red clay, containing some adobe and over- 

 lying a cemented gravel called hardpan. This clay ranges from 1 to 5 feet deep, 

 although in many places the bed rock appears on the surface. This bed rock is slate. 

 The soil absorbs water slowly and dries out quickly, owing to its shallowness. To be 

 worked successfully it has to be plowed at just the right degree of wetness, otherwise 

 it will not pulverize. This is a strong inducement in favor of small ranches. On a 

 large ranch there is a possibility that there will not be enough days in the year when 

 the ground is in good condition to put in proper tilth for crops. 



EFFECT OF IRRIGATION ON SOIL. 



The water used in irrigating the district has all been previously used in mining, 

 therefore it is alwa3'S more or less charged with fine sand or sediment. From this 

 fact the water is especially beneficial in irrigating shallow soil. It is the general 

 opinion of the irrigators that muddy water is beneficial, except when applied to the 

 stems of very 3-oung plants, or when alfalfa, etc. , are flooded too deeply, leaving a 

 sediment that stock do not like. 



EFFECT ON HEALTH. 



There seems to be no ill effect on the health of this community that can be 

 traced to irrigation. 



VALUE OF LAND. 



It is impossible to determine the value of land in the vicinitv. The district has 

 been inv^olved in litigation for some time, and the titles to all the land in the district 

 have become involved. There has been no sale of land for several years. The 

 opinion of the people of the various parts differs as to the value of the land. From 

 $20 to $30 per acre seems to be the value placed on good land susceptible of irrigation 

 and not under cultivation, where it is under the ditch and water can be got on it. 



