Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02

applied. generally apply the sulphur twice
to Muscat grapes in the season and to Tokay
three times. A tin cup, with holes in the
bottom, is as good as anything to apply the
sulphur with.
IRRIGATION.
When dug up my orchard and planted
vines instead, supposed the soil would carry
moisture enough through the season to
mature grapes with full size and Of the very
best quality. My soil is tine sandy loan,
and on the bank Of Putah creek, having
depth of perhaps fifty feet. Notwishstand-
standing these favorable circumstances, expe-
rience has demonstrated to me that grapes
may be very much improved in size and
quality fer raisin. making by artificial irriga-
tion at the time the grapes are growing and
maturing. Having become thoroughly con-
WINGED of this fact and having started out
with the determination of producing a raisin
equal to the best to be found in the world, l
concluded to introduce system of irrigation
by which | could have control of the water as
to time and quantity applied. l therefore
adopted the underground system OF applying
water through pipes laid through my vine
yard and orchard, SO that the water could
reach the roots OF every vine and tree. l
have now laid abost ten miles of main con-
crets twelve.inch pipe and about
TWO HUNDRED MILES
OF distributing, of different Sizes made of the
same material. These pipes are laid about
twenty inches below the surface, and COM
| pletely out of the way Of cultivation. The
main and distributing pipes are connected
and regulated by plugs, so that the water can
be turned out of the main pipes into the dis
tributing at viii, at any point desired Open
| ings are made at central points between the
| vines and trees, so that the water gets an
| equal distribution over the section to be irri-
gated. The apertures ia the distributing are
capped with cap of concrete, to prevent the
stopping of them up with soil or any other
material. We pump the water from Putah
creek into reservoirs. with which the main
pipe is connected. We use a thirty horse
power Hoadley engine and Head & Siseo
pump. We use about one half Of the power
of the engine. and raise 2. GOO gallons of water
twenty feet high per minute. | commenced
my irrigation W rks in the spring of 1880,
and got them into operation 10 time to apply
water TO some of my vines that year, and the
result
| IN IMPROVING MY GRAPES,
| Was sI and more than I anticipated. My
| experience with the system, greatly improved
and perfected, has also been very gratifying,
and even mora favorable than I anticipated.
[ have no regrets for the outlay, but, on the
contrary, confidently expect to be fully COM
pensated for the large outlay in the improve
ment of my crops Of grapes and raisins
the coming season. 1t makes no DIFF
ference how rich and deep and fine the soil,
vines or trees cannot produce perfect fruit
without water while that fruit is being ma
tured and ripened. Irrigation is the last
| necessity.
And now, let me say, believe in Califor-
MIA as f,uitgrowing and raisin-producing
country. We have the climate and soil in
many localities to make the best fruit grow
ing and raisin- making country in the world.
We can not only supply the Eastern States,
but Europe and Asia, with raisins, if the
enterprise is properly taken hold OF by
enough of the right kind of people. BuS
success depends on the proper selection of
locality and proper management by proper
persons.