Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-18
soLusLE FART.

B total amount Of mineral iugredi-
On this water Is far greater than is
bsible in waters intended for domes-
be of any kind. But even il the
ltity were much less, the quality OF
Observation-Disclosures SO large pro-
ion Of gypsum and EPSON salt
lers it highly Objectionable for drink
purposes; and 1t is only by the ad.
on Of considerable amount OF soda
tit could be made to answer for wash.
Is regards its fitness for irrigation, it
,uld be noted that out Of the Tin round
nbersj 6S gr7ins Of solid contents
irly Al belong to the 'insoluble" class,
a are in quality not only unobjection-
le from the irrigator's point of
,w, but the bulk, being gyp-
m. is actually a benefit to most
ads, especially to those afflicted
ith "black alkali.,' 1t is only the re.
aiming " grains OF soluble matters
nat remain to be dealt with. OF these,
he four grains Of "organic matter" need
lot be eonsidered; and of the remainder,
he mainly Objectionable portion is the
IA grainspf sulphate Of magnesium or
EPSON Mt, an accumulation Of which
in the soil would soon become very in
furious, although small dressings Of it
In the guise of ''kieserite" are used for
fertilization in Europe and in the East.
But in the lower San joaquin valley it
renders considerable tracts uncultivata-
bio until it is removed. This can be
done by the use Of quicklime, OF which
about one.half Of the amount of sulphate
Of magnesia present is needed for com
plete removal. The outcome of the
mutual action of these substances is
gypsum and inert magnesia. Applying,
therefore, 7 grains Of lime per gallon OF
the San Fernando water, or say three
barrels Of lime to every million of gal
Ions, the alkaline salts remaining (about
0 grains) would not exceed what is
found in many Of the natural irrigation
waters Of the State.
Whether or not such q correction Of
the water in question would pay, will
have to be determined by local circum
stances. Where land now uncultivat
able can be made to produce high re
turns in fruit or grape culture, and from
Sl0 per acre can be made worth $3.50 OF
more, the expenditure required may b,
not at all unreasonable One million
gallons per acre Is equal to about foul
inches Of rainfall, and this with th,
natural water supply will, in man,
cases, do all that is ueedful for success
ful and profitable culture.
There is, however, one class Of land
upon which this water would be an un
mixed benefit Just a. it is. This is tn,
alkali lands, such ms those Of Westmins
ter, Anaheim and Orange. Here the us,
Of gypsum supplies the natural antidot
+, the carbonate Cd soda, which is tn
shieflv injurious ingredient of the alkali
but which would be active first Of all il
decomposing the Objectionable Epson
salt, leaving the gypsum la the soil t
counteract any excess or additional ris
Of the alkali from below. II. then, ii b,
feasible, financially, to convey the Sal
Fernando water to these lands, it coul,
he utilized for a long time at least, with
out any correction.
In using it on non alkaline lands
also, it would probably remain Harmless
for some years on those soils naturall
rich in lime. Whenever any injuriou
action is noted. tho use of lime on tn
land, or in reservoir furnishing tn
water can be nude to correct il.
should not bo forgotten that the Iaro
supply of gypsum and lime thus put o
the land acts as an efficient fertilize
and is not, therefore, an altogether unr
munerative expense in itself.
II should be mentioned in this come
tton that the examination OF alkali spo
existing on the Baldwin ranch has show
them to coutain the same ingredients
tho tunnel water, and to need the san
corrective. 1t is therefore probable tn
similar waters would largely be obtain,
bv tunnelling into the Sierra Madre
other points, aud as the supply seems
be abundant, the question Of their ut
ization is one of wide Importance.
Z. w. HILeARD.