THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA QUESTIONS. 163 



on seven acres of land near Raymond Hill, South Pasadena, 

 at 15 cents per hole, and cleared ^5 a day at it. The top soil 

 was -li feet thick, the hardpan 3 feet. I dug the holes to hard- 

 pan, then with a l-|-inch wood bit welded onto a 5-foot shank 

 I bored down 20 inches into it, put in one stick of No. 2 giant 

 powder, tamping it ^Yith fine earth. It blew a hole clear through 

 the hardpan, the hole afterward being cleaned out and filled 

 with top soil. 



The Club: The foregoing replies were indorsed. No. 2 

 giant powder is preferable to No. 1, because its slower action 

 cracks and shakes the hardpan more thoroughly. Good results 

 have been obtained in orchards already set, by putting one stick 

 of powder directly under the tree. It is important that the 

 charge be in the hardpan — not under it. If exploded below the 

 hardpan its force is expended in making a cavity there without 

 breaking up the overlying stratum. It is well to clean out 

 the hole and fill with sand, thus insuring the free penetration 

 of water to the substratum. Of course in putting the blast 

 directly under the tree, the hole must be made slanting. Some 

 roots are necessarily broken, but the benefits are largely in the 

 majority. 



