176 flow to Make the Checks. 
way between the rows to the construction of well-defined and 
strong banks with suitable implements which reduce the cost to 
a minimum. The following method, as practised in Orange 
County, is of the latter class:— 
The ground is deeply cultivated, say about five inches deep, so as to 
be able to throw up a high ridge; then with a four or six-horse ‘‘ridger”’ 
run once each way between every row, if it is a citrus or deciduous or- 
chard, and twice should the trees be walnuts, as the larger checks require 
better banks orridges. After this is done run entirely around the outside of 
the piece to be irrigated, so as to have as perfect a ridge as possible on the 
outside. Then, with one horse attached to what is locally known as a 
‘‘go-devil,’? proceed to close up one side of the checks. The practise 
generally followed is to close up the high side of the checks, if the land 
does not cut by running water, but if it cuts, close up to the lower side. 
After closing up the checks the ditches are plowed out, and then what is 
known as a “ V’’ is run twice through them to perfect the ditch. On 
lands inclined to cut, it is advisable that the length of the rows to be irri- 
gated should not be over 250 feet, but in heavy land this distance can be 
considerably increased, if necessary, without danger of cutting the ridges 
by too long a run of water. 
If the checks have been closed on the low side of the ridge, it is better 
to run the water to the ends of the ditch and water the last row first; but 
if closed on the high side, water the row nearest the gate or main ditch, as 
the case may be, first, as in each instance there will be dry earth to work 
with, if necessary, when closing up the checks. The water is run down 
the row to the end tree, and as soon as the last check is filled it is closed 
up, and so on till all are filled and closed, when the water is turned down 
the next row.* 
The “ridger” described is a sled with the solid plank “run- 
ners” set farther apart at the front than at the rear. With t'e 
weight of the driver this takes in much loose earth in front, 
which is crowded up as it proceeds to the narrow space behind, 
and is left as a well-defined ridge. The passing of this “ridger” 
in crossing the first-made ridges breaks them down, and as many 
as it is desirable to close are quickly fixed by the “go-devil,” 
which is a large horse-hoe, or sort of square scoop, fitted with 
thills for the horse and handles for the man. Coming to the gap 
in the ridge the man lifts on the handles and the earth is placed 
to restore the ridge, all but a little touch with a shovel afterwards. 
Sometimes the checks are filled one from another, begin- 
ning on the high side; sometimes a centrai ditch is formed by 
running the “ridger” twice, finished with the V, and the water is 
admitted to each check from this central ditch. In this way the 
men can work down one side and up the other, and finish at the 
point where the water is to be diverted to the next set of checks, 
of which several sets should be fixed in advance of the water if 
possible. Weak places in checks or ditches, in soils disposed to 
cut, can be strengthened by old grain sacks opened out and 
weighted down with soil. 
*Sydmer Ross, of Fullerton. 
