The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-10-16

We recently published an article on the snbject
Of subsOl plo~iag--of deep ana thorough cult
vaiion-irom the pen Of an esteemed contributor GA
Maui. The following from the agricultural DE-
partment of The San Francisco OhyoRies h much
10 the same effect.
The early Spanish aud Mexicn setu4fs OF ,he
state brought with them the idea that wilhcat
irrigation agriculture was impossible. They had
seen II p~racticed In their native countries. aud
adopted the same sysirnf as TIE oniy proper one.
and the lands around the Missions were irrigated
accordingly. The first American settlers who
made come small beginnings 10 agdeulturc Rdeptee
the Same idea, aud IN some cases gave etirAvagani
prices for small tracts OF land that could be- ini
gated from springs or mountain streams, while
adjoining lands OF equal value were considered of
no value except Tor pasturage. ID was discovered.
however, as early as 1852 that In Central Caliior
MIA at least. except for garden vegetables. Irriga
ton was a hindranoe Instead Of a help, aud that
deep blowing and thorough cultivation only were
sufficient 10 retain In the soil oil tho moisture nee
essary 10 Prodaee abnndaps crops Of oil kinds.
We are much pleased 20 notice from experiment.
made this season 10 Los Angeles. santa Basbara
and other southern counties, that Irrigation IL not
employed In many casea who're u could be easily
available, aud that many farmers are raising eK.
cellent crops wlthouLit mn
Deepah "a thoroagh cultivation. wlich has proved
dsefd in the central parts Of lhe stats. will We
believe, entirely change The ssyie Of agricui,ur~in
the southern counties within a few years. HIM.
dreds OF square miles OF land which have bcea
neglected a. orchards, Tor want Of wlAff, erl
prove 70 be Ms good rs those which arc undef ~
%rigation; or, II NOT quite rs fertile, Yet az IeAh
capable OF raising far crops OF all kinds. Oi
course The yield would not be uniform. but vary
with the rainfall. Within twelve years this has
been for three years only four inches, aud two
years only seven inches, but for the other seven
years an average of twelve and Eve S~eyenths
inches. With this latter amount we have no doubt
that aided by good cultiva3on che grsiti gIcld
would be e~xceilent Ia q heavy soil Ike DAT 81
the central counties II seems TO be- particularly
necessary TO keep the soil at the surface mellow
and free from weeds and through the growing
season, in order 70 make u . nor oondnctpr and
retain the moisture beneath, aud Il seems 90 IN
that this could more easily be effected In the
lighter soils Of the south, where Il IL still more nee.
essary. This Ii a matter franRht with deep inter.
est 10 all parts OF the State, and especially 20 the
southern part OF Il. Although we freely admit
the necessity and importance OF irrigation In mnny
localities, we are decidedly OF opinion that h will
not prove TO be 50 indispensable IN many places
as is generally supposed. We are much gralGed
TO see In our exchanges that Senator Jones pro.
poses 10 try the experiment Of deep and thorough
cultivation without irrigation ON an extensive
scale at Santa Monica, and have little doubt he
VIII fully demonstrate that excellent eropa can Dc
made without any artificial supply Of water. That
point once well settled, and The lower counties
would at once become OF greater importance than
ever, aud more than double their present agricnl.
lnra productions. The price efland and qtba
popnlston Of many counties. would be largely Ia.
creased by the single discovery that irrigation,
although desirable, IL not generally necessary 10
successful agricultnre. a ""~