Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-10

powder which blasts little rock. and then
plant their trees. Query-Mill this be suf-
hcient in the long run2 1t would cost only
about $50 per acre, and would be cheap at
that If the land could thus be made TO grow
Bartlett pears and the like"
It certainly seems very desirable to avoid
the heavy expense of digging through the
bedrock: and ii it can be sufficiently
shattered by blasting at the bottom of a
bore-hole, all that is really needful will
have been accomplished. A charge of COM
mon black powder is not likely to do this !:
while on the other hand, so high an explo-
siye as dynamite would not be sufficiently
extensive in its pulverizing action, as is
shown by the use of so many cartridges in
one hole by Mr.. Lubin. therefore sug-
gested the use of " Judson powder" in
Dore-hole of sufficient depth, and the sub
sequent digging of the holes to the usual
depth only.
In late communication Mr.. I.ubin
states that Judson powder does not do suf-
hclent execution in the * bedrock" and
that giant powder No. 2 seems preferable.
The kind of explosive to be used to the
greatest advantage will naturally vary from
place TO place, with the nature of the hard
pan, and will have to be ascertained by
trlai-which could best be made before the
rains set in. But in view of the fact that
the substratum of the " bedrock lands " is
shown to be actually richer in plant food
than the surface soil; that while in its
natural condition it not only obstructs
the passage of the roots mechanically, but
also Injuries them by the formation of
poisonous solutions in consequence of the
stagnatlon of water all of which can be
relieved by the shattering of the substratum
by means of judicious blasting, also giving
the roots access to abundant moisture: il
would certainly seem that in favorable To-
cations, where land is available, this mode
of rendering it available for fruit culture
deserves most earnest consideration.
Neither the adobe nor the bedrock
should be used i'll the filling up of holes
after planting, any more than raw
subsoil should be turned on the surface in
other cases. But with. the access of air
and water to the shattered portion, the sub
strata will gradually so through the process
of soil formation and their plant food win
doubtless become available fast enough to
insure the welfare and productiveness of
an orchard for the usual period.
Mr.. Lubin states, since the issuance of
the above bulletin, that it is not correct so far
as the hardpan in vicinity of Mayhew sta
ton is concerned. There he finds that a
second hardpan, or . bedrock is found
from six to eight feet below the first one,
ana that there was an entire absence of
moisture between the two layers. The in
tervening strata is composed of sand and
loose material, but carrying no moisture
he thinks that in order to derive the benefit
anticipated from subterranean flow of
moisture it will be necessary to go through
the second hardpan. This, it will be seen
land appreciated by the farmer of small
means) will be rather expensive proceed
ing, as preliminary to setting out an orchard
or vineyard. and unless sale for fruit is
better assured than now, will be an excel
lent way to sink a small fortune past pos
sibility of recovery.