, 1891-10-17
IRRIGATION IN CALIFORNIA.
From the Lou;siiana Planter and Sugar
Ilg'45 Manafactarer.)

u huA 1l0H dlLAOD W 00AA w ~ OH GACODDlOAS
al one, in which the farmer does not suffer
either from excessive rainfall or from ~protract-
ed drought. Against an injurious amount of
rain there is little or nothing he can do to pro-
tect himself. From the effects of the drought
he has an absolute protection at his command,
ifhe will incur the requisite expense and la
bour Of irrigating his land. In most cases
where he does this, the result is that he culti-
Yates less lane and cultivates it more thorough
": and as it has been found in a great mum
Der Of instances that this change Of poll
cy increases rather than diminishes his pro-
fits, the practice of irrigation, even in regions
which have an abundant average rain
fall, has grown in favour very rapidly in
the last few years. There is, it is believed,
scarcely any part of the country where it might
not be introduced with decided advantage, es-
pecially in the raising fruits and vegetables.
Stillmore strongly does this statement apply
if the idea of working more closely a relatively
small area Of land, or what is called intensive
farming, is at the same time carried out.
In Southern California there is little or no
rain during about nine months Of the year and
as the soili is extremely fertile, it follows that
the farmer, with adequate means Of irrigation,
has the best situation that can be conceived
for obtainin g satisfactory results. He can
water his trees and plants at precisely such
times and in such measure as will give the
best returns he has no untimely or excessive
moisture to app rehend; and the absence of
rain enables himto work lmost every day in
the year, and to arrange his work with certain
ty and convenience.
A great deal of land in Southern California
iB cultivated without irrigation, and excellent
crops are raised. In what are called the noun
tain belts, from Is to so miles from the coast,
= n : --:Go ovATo1o-4 on,,o11S~n -
MANY points that Of the Eastern States and in
fact the climate and other conditions strongly
resemble those of eastern localities. In these
parts thew not only have plenty Of rain, but
they have also forests, living streams, hot sum-
mersand cold and snowy winters. Go twenty
miles west, to the valleys and uplands along
the coast. and the whole situation is changed.
There is no forest growth to speak Of, the
streams all go dry in summer, and the whole
face of the country from May to December is
brown and burnt except where patches of
vivid green, which max Q q delightful contrast,
show the hand of %cultivat ion to have boon at
work. Thesealso Indicate usually that lrriga-
ton has been employed; not always, however,
as the soil even in these comparatively ralnless
parts has q remarkable capacit y for retain ing
the moisture it receives during the wet winter
months, and rewarding the labour bestowed on
it with luxuriant crops.
Practically speaking however, agriculture in
any o. its branches on the coast lands of South
ern California requires thorough irrigation, if
anything like full and sure results are desired.
In the past this irrigation has been supplied
chiefly by means of wells, which vary in depth
all the way from 100000 feet, and the pumps
which are driven by windmills. am told
that there are in the comparatively new coun-
ty of San Diego alone, some 100 wind
mills in operation. So long as nothing better
was to be had, this method was found tolerably
satisf actory; but with increased population, sci
ence, cap ital and engineering skill have come,
as they always do in this country, to reinforce
the crude efforts of the pioneer, and enlarge
the scope of his operations. There are now
many irrigating companies in California and
one Of the most enterprising of these has built
the costly and massive structure known as the
Sweetwater Dam.
The Sweetwater Dam is built across q mar
row gorge seven or eight miles east of the city
and bay of San Diego. The gorge extends
about half-a-mile through a dyke of trap rock
or trachyte which intersects the valley of the
Sweetwater river, and Immediately above it is a
broad. level basin some three miles long and
from I to I mile in width. The place was
plainly indicated by its natural conformation as
a suitable one for storing the winter flow OF
the Sweetwater, and providing for the farms IN
the valley and the population along the bays