Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-17
AGRICULTURAL.
NATTER Prepared SPECIALLY FOR
THE "REcoRD UNION"
Irrigated Agriculture-Fruit Canneries-
Curing of Raisins-Ezporttng
Raw MateriaIs-Etc.

England, ireland aud Scotland are among
the best naturally watered countries in the
world. They lie in the path, or near the
path, of the Gulf stream, that leads out of
thu Gulf of Mexico and crosses the Atlantic
ocean in northeasssrly direction, carrying
with It stream Of hot air, which, coming IN
contact with the cooler air off Norway and
Sweden, flows back over the British Isles and
discharges the distilled dampness on those
islands in fogs and rains. The very atmos-
phere Of Great Britain IS at all time of the
year full of moisture, and the soil seldom
suffers for the want Of the necessary damp
ness 20 keep vegetation in green, growing
condition. Notwithstanding this fact much
of tire meadow and pasture lands of England
are irrigated artifcialIy to stimulate the
growth of the grass early in the season, and
to increase the production. It has been
found that By flooding these meadows and
pastures In the winter AID early spring, tie
frost is taken from the soil, and the grasses
get an earlier start and make a ranker
growth the following season. Then many Of
chs English farmers have ray grass meadows.
from which, by irrigation during the
summer, they obtain from three to four crops
of green hay by the process of feeding called
soiliug, and keep the grass growing fresh and
green NEST Ok the time during the winter
Season. The best natural meadows OF the
Northern Atlantic States ara those that are
annually flooded By the overflow of adjoin-
ing creeks. In many places 10 these States
production for hay aud grass for pasture IS
kept M to high state by artiEcially forcing
water over tbs lands. The agriculture of
China-the oldest and most prolific sgricult-
ure in the worlds almost universally an
irrieated agriculture. The Oldest agriculture
of which the Bible gives any account was
stimulated by irrigation. The first Labor
saving machinery OF which ancient history
gives any description, was machinery for
raising water for irrigating purposes. An
cient 2 yypt was the product of an irrigated
agriculture. Though the river Nile has al
ways bsen subject TO annual oyerhows, which
suDmerges the valley and keeps the soil moist
till lasa in the spring. still agriculture, even on
the very banks of the river, owes very much
60 artificial irrigation. The agriculture OF
Iudia-fr0m which England draws largely
for the support of her vast manu-
AACluEAAI BbPL44GLlJLl-As aAAuuaG WAOAiy
dependent on artificial irrigation to
keep up the products to paying standard.
Mexico and Peru and other sections of tho
southern portion OF this continent. were once
the seat If a rich agriculture. sustained By
artificial irrigation, the ruins Of which are at
ouca the admiration and wonder of travellers.
The best results of agriculture in all parts of
the world, from the earliest historic period
down to the present time. have been secured
by artificial irrigation. The history of agri-
culture wisbous irrigation, in every country
walrs 1t has been praeticed for a long period
Of time has been a history of the exhaustion
Of the soil and the impoverishment Of the
agrieulturists and the agricultural laborers.
Nature seems not to have anticipated the
cultivation of the soil, and hence has not pro-
vided for such a condition OF things. The
science Of agriculture is as much an artificial
science as the science Of architecture or the
science OF medicine, or any other of the sciences
which have engaged the study and ingenuity
Of man, and 10 bring it to the highest perfec
ton IL requires artificial conditions. When
the most rainfall is needed TO support agri-
culture in prosperous condition, as a rule
the least rain falls, and, on the contrary,
when the least is needed the most falls. Thus
the world over the most rain falls on the
mountains, and In countries so broken aud
uneven IS not TO be cnltivatabie, while the
least falls on the broad fat prsiries and In the
wide deserts A study OF these facts should
teach man not to expect permanent success
Ia the cultivation Of the soil until he has pre-
vided the means of regulating the supply of
water to the wants OF the soil he Is cultivat-
ing. While there are mauy localities In Calf
foraia where the rainfall is sufficient to sup
port high state of cultivation il properly
distributed we think it is equally true that
there is not 2 single locality where artificial
irrigation would not. judici0usly praeticed,
double the production Of q general agTi-
culture. The very fact that in the same
locality IN the same climate and character of
sod, some crops need more water TO perfect
them than Others, shows man that In order to
bring agriculture up to its highest success. he
should be prepared TO regulate the supply Of
water as demanded by the circumstances. 4
Wherever man supplies and regulates the
water for agricultural purposes, then success
of agriculture Is assured beyond q parad-
venture. Wherever man depends upon nature
for the supply of water for agricultural pur-
poses, there the success OF agriculture Is as
uncertain and precarious as the weather.
The farmers Of any country are not the only
parties interested in this subject of an irri-
gated agriculture. Commerce, the mechanic
arts, the manufactures, the learned pro-
fe5sions-all are equally interested in the sub
lect with the farmer. Indeed, we think, as q
rule, tbs representations of other industries
are more interested than the farmer, for
the reason that society is SO organized
that they secure greater degree
OF prosperity from the success Of agri-
culture than does the farmer himself. OF
all the States in the American Union Cali
fornia suffers more from the want of an irri-
gated agriculture than any other State and
on the other hand, with an irrigated agri-
culture California would become the richest
agricultural State il the Union. No other
State has climate adapted to SO wide a
range of agricultural products. We may also |
say that no other State is 50 well situated for
q general, successful and comprehensive plan |
OF irrigation as California. The whole State |
is made up of rich alluVial valleys, and ele- |
waited watersheds Immediately adjacent. |
The valleys all have their natural water |
courses, through which flow the waters OF |
these elevated watersheds thus bringing the |
waters-the element of untold riehes-almost |
Go the door of evsry farmer in the land. |
With complete system of irrigation in OPP |
Grafton over the State the increased produc- |
ton Of single year would almost pay the |
expense of bringing the water ontoeyery farm. |
With irrigation generally introduced and |
practiced the farmers Of California would IN /
time hold mortgages on the balance of the /
world; without it their lands will remain /
@issstSi +lo. Sc 70 ssSo w" teiH9 az ..HsrSS
Of their disadvantages. The farmers of Hol- |
land are said to bold as class more AmeIi. |
can securities th,a any other people in the |
wcrld-the bankers are merely their agents. |
The agriculture of Holland is an irrigated |
agriculture. Indeed almost the entire coun- |
try Is an artificial country, from which the |
water is shut out by leyees and brought in by |
irrigating canals.
Success to the Fruit Canneries.
Canning fruit Tor export in California is |
comparatively new industry, but, notwith- |
standing, it IS to this industry that the pres
emit boom in fruit culture is chiefly due. We