The daily gazette., 1875-11-02
Letter from CdiiJOlni0


Corce~ pondeuce OF the Baltimore sun.
SAN Francisco, October 20, 1873.
THE WATER sYsETM IN CALIFoRNIA- -
THE DRoUGHTS AND IRRIGATION OF
LANDS, ETC.
How can anything grow where not n
drop of rain falls from May to November;
How can cattle find pasture: Does not
all grass dry up and die at the roots?
How is it that trees live, that fruit Is
plentiful, and that thirty millions of
grape vines bear luguriant clusters and
sport glistenins verdure, without even
due moisture from the day of opening
buds to the perfect vintage. Upon what
do bees pasture in such a country, that
they yield double honey to the hive, and
SO thrive that three swarms a year are
not unusual: The whole rainfall OF the
year average, about twenty-five inches;
thirty Is Il tull supply. In the northern
counties and IN the mountain range, II
often greatly exceeds tlls, and at los
Angelo twelve inches make crop. Ihr
soil Of california j. - POROUS that II
absYru- r..u more than elsewhere. L
does not retain IL near the surface, htl.
passc, Il tAruu-., porous VlLrrnr ut
many y.ris before II tEds l.IsMel.t.-
This pOroslty !lvl-a~ roots t peIetrat,
IL 70 -.L''ik Us lIIl Ntt''ls Al4't tll'
thirsty atMJsl .,IeAt.Gcts !, upwards
by ulact"c p'ocI ~ that tr"r- and
vines Aavv -sllner I,ligatluu from DcioW
luStra / ut from anuy" ly rtin-. =, Curl
ous proof Il Tins iaw is gwen II. tine lat
Ter part ii August.
One wouia syint-eorytLl; tne great
est suffering u trees and vines would be
IL the latest months II tine drought: that
| every month after Nay the dessicatins
oppression would increase till the rams
Oh November should bring relief. But it
| Is not So, Late IN August springs that
wera dry begin to show moisture, and
| gradually they resume "a How. This Is
the crisis. After il, all plants having
| living roots are safe for the year. Ordi-
nary grasses die out; but Alfalfa clover
is known TO send down its roots 30 feet to
water. This grass affords four cuttings
| in a season without u drop of rain
| Where II does not grow, altlarea, "A spe-
| cles OF squat geranlum, often covers the
dry hillsIdes with its tufts, and a grass
| calle d lunch grass, both deep -rooters.
Wild oats and burr clover are the princi-
| pal food of cattle over large portion of
the uplands The compensating benefits
| OF intense dryness are manifest now.
/ These grasses being suddenly dried by
| the early neat of ,lune, before the juices
i VI lIlC HNOlhS IL . IOSll tiIt CuItu like nav
| while standing, and the capsules shrink
| firmly around the oat grain, So that it
does not fail to the ground. The seed of
| burr clover Is also preserved, though
| spread evenly over tn" surface. So fat
are ANIMALS that they are taken direct to
tine shamblcs without stall feeding.
An Eastern farmer newly arrived,
would say, il. mldsummer.' / wish We
could have d shower" Bat nothing
wouid te more nAlimr!y. Such a casuali.
ty would spoil tue d!y pasture. Il would
open t44e e4pule-, dlap the grain and
oWout It. The sprout would die in Il
day = sun, and his cattle would perish
Contrary 10 what theory would assume
bees are saved from furnishing IN tn,
rIcA bottoms hy being transferred to til,
mountains. In tAe foot hills of til,
Nevadas and in the gold districts tn,
country Is covered with a worthless chap
paral,as tits called. Il is dcnse growti
OF various bushes that flower profuSel'
Tor SIX months, and bees find there tn
| richest pasture. Every stream tba
flows from the mountains Is kept lviui
well into summer by snow from tn
helghts OF the Nevada. WHAT Is rain oi
the plains Is snow On the heights. o:te
thirty feet deep. This Is IA mercy; for
the whole rainshed Of 800 to 20 miles an
l
the nsual high flood ii would destro
everything IN its track. We're it not fo
the gradually melting SHOWS in summr
the streams would suffer, and ther
| would be an end to hydraulic go.d wa-t
= | ing, which Is by far the most sure, mo.
q prohhc and most protita bic source Of gol
. production.
\ singular natural contrivance sti
further assists In saving superhcii
: flooding and in storing surplus water tt
summer dry visitation. Every streal
u however, snort or small has its sinl
n through which much of it, water
e drop INTO subteranean reservoirs. Hel
I is a subject for admiration. Did all raj
l., flow on the surface as usual, and be e
g posed to evaporation under an unclou
a ed sun and thirsty atmosphere, are r
4 turned to ocean, vegetable life would ,
dead on the land and human habltatic
would cease. But, by this provision, Il
II waters are reservoired in every lnout
q tain and preserved from waste, SO tn
y far from being scantily provided, Ca
IS fornla Is one OF the best watered cou
v tries, Over most of our plains howir
n water can be got by by boring $50 to 2
10 feet, and where it does not overflow ii
10 trade winds OF summer suffice to pun
. 1T up. This makes "a debit, but there
compensating credit in the exrraord
ie nary growth of everything in this clir
Is ate, and III the perfect ripening of &
es products, under a bright sun and an u
e. clouded sky.
e To SUFFERING LAD1Es.-"Dr. Rogersor
~ Finale HydrastiR Popders," for ali fena
" ~ Complaints, BY mail, 81. Address. /