Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-05-06
IRRIGATION.
Suggestions as to the Means of Doing
It-Cheap Water Pipes-Sam Fernando
and Her Prospects.

EDITOR HERALD: The subject of ir-
rigation is one that is agitating the
people of Los Angeles county espe-
cially, and more or less in all parts OF
the world where there is an insuffi-
Gent supply of water from rains. In
those localities where there is super
abundance the great question is drain
age. From the earliest times that we
have any record of these great ques-
tons, scientists have written of them
frequently, and because why? This
question is answered in II very few
words: it is that we may obtain sup
ply of the necessaries of life with the
least work. We read in the Bible
that
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Was watered by four great rivers, and
that partially made it paradise. The
Valley of the Nile, the great granary
of Egypt, would be entirely worthless
if it were not for the annual overflow
of that grand old river. But now let
US come to the point. We have no
Garden of Eden Though no doubt Los
Angeles county approaches nearer to
it than any otherportion of the globe;
we have no river lie to overflow our
beautiful valleys, but we can utilize
all the water that most beniiicent
Providence has placed within our
reach. Now, the next question is,
how to do that? Well, | say, let us
make use of the means within our
reach.
IN THE FIRST PLACE,
Take the water from the streams by
means of wood or iron pipes, that is,
for the mains. For instance, if per-
son having an orchard, vineyard or
garden wishes to irrigate, let him,
from the mains, connect with smaller
pipes and place them beneath the sur
face of the ground, perforating the
same with small holes on the top, and
then turn on your water. By this
means your water will be APP
piled to the roots of the plants,
and you will lose nothing by
evaporation. Some will say this is too
expensive plan; well, here is a
cheap method which has been used
SUCCESSFULLY: Take strips of paper
and roll them around cylindrical
piece of wood of the required calibre of
your pipe, then draw out your wood
and you have q paper pipe, rather
frail. But wait; take this and pass it
through vat, filled previously with
liquid asphaltum, make your joints
with paper dipped in the same mate
rial, and you then have strong, du-
rable and
CHEAP PIPE.
Your saving of water and labor by this
means will be very great. You save
all the mulching, and any orchardist
knows that mulching makes a nest for
vermin, which are more or less des-
tructive to his trees. Now, as to small
grains. The best wheat we have in
California is raised on the high, dry
lands. l know land that few years
since was entirely covered with chem
ical, which is now very productive of
wheat, barley, etc.; where it is l20 feet
and over to water, it produces an av-
erage of twenty quintals to the acre.
And now, how can farmer be sure of
a crop with less than the average
quantity of rain?
IN THE YEAR 1868,
l think a gentleman of my acquain =
ance owned piece of land of the char
acter described above. He Summer
fallowed it, After blowing, he Guilt
waited it several times, keeping it en-
tirely free from weeds, and the fol-
lowing year he sowed and narrowed it.
He produced crop from it of forty
bushels of wheat to the acre. while his
| 10Th hnp hoH lie
in regard to our town of San Fernando.
The surveyors are still at work, and
parties are constantly arriving for the
purpose of purchasing lots. All seem
well pleased with the prospects of the
town. l noticed in the depot yester-
day considerable amount of freight
for the interior-some marked Inde-
pendence, some Lone Pine, some Cerro
Gordo, and other places.
THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF La CRONICA
Paid lis visit on Saturday and re-
manned till yesterday. They seemed
to enjoy themselves wonderfully, as
who would not with that prince OF
good fellows, DE Cells. Speeches were
made by Gen. Andreas Pico. Mr.. Cells,
Mr.. Maclay and others. Everything
passed off with harmless mirth, hilar,
ity and good fellowship. We have
also real good hotel here, which
ought to have mentioned before. Mine
host, Capt. Kittredge, is trying his
best to satisfy the wants of the inner
man. His table is we'll patronized by
those whom the cravings of hunger
send him, and l must say that south
of San Francisco l have not sat down
to better meal than he furnishes fol
the moderate sum of fifty cents.
Yours, SAN FERNANDO.
SAN FERNANDO, May 4th.