The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-07-23
In the Arid West.


interesting sights, notable places in
quick succession were crowded into
the recent trip west. We shall have
to deal piecemeal with the many
wonderful things and facts gathered
during the enjoyable Pacific coast
tour of the Editorial Association.
Perhaps the most interesting and
remarkable feature is the use of
water in the cultivation of the soii
that obtains in California and other
portions of the 'arid region as
that part of the United States is
called which lies west of the one
hundredth meridian. The rainfall
is SO scanty that irrigation is a ne
cessity, and many million dollars are
invested in reservoirs and canals for
conducting water to the ranches
of the farmers. We say ranches,
for everything from an acre on which
chickens or bees are kept up to a
half-million acre farm, is called
ranch.
In the central and southern por-
tions Of California, little farming is
done without irrigation, and the ease
with which water is applied, together
with the uniformly large results
realized, makes it wonder that
farmers of the east have not long
since utilized the springs and
streams which abound on every hand
whose water would many time save
the loss from drought that now is so
frequent. Irrigation is practiced in
many localities, but in Kern county
the largest canals are found, There
are some l20 feet wide and feet
deep, which carry water enough to
irrigate upward of 100000 acres.
The vast extent of irrigation enter
prise may be seen from the fact that
a single concern, the Kern County
Land Company has over 300 miles
of main canals, varying from 40 to
I29 feet in width, and over LOO
miles Of laterals, by which the water
is conveyed directly upon the land
This system cost over 100000 to
construct, and by it over 100000
acres of land otherwise absolutely
unproductiye are made worth up to
$3.50 and even more per acre.
Everywhere that irrigation is
plentiful in California the same
wonderful results were seen. Des-
ert lands that no one would take
as gift, when supplied with water
at first cost of $40 to $40 an acre,
and an annual charge for mainten-
ance of 81. to $1.50 an acre, by the
application of water are made to
yield from $50 to $3.50 worth of
peaches, apricots, prunes, raisins
and other fruit to the acre, $50 to
800 worth of alfalfa, 30 to 40
bushels of wheat and so on through
out the entire list of farm crops and
orchard products.
The manner of applying the water
to growing crops is as easy as the
results are remarkable. In Kern
county and neighboriug sections the
land is nearly level, moderately
sloping in two directions. A canal
is constructed across the highest
line OF any given property. For
alfalfa or similar crops small en-
bankments are thrown up foot or
eighteen inches high about the field.
The canals have wooden gates and
when these are opened the water is
allowed to run until the ground is
covered several inches deep. When
as much has been put on as the soil
will take up the gate is closed
With alfalfa one application ofwater
is sufficient for single crop and
from three to eight crops are cut
each year.
For trees or vines, burrows are
plowed between the rows and the
water is turned into them and al
lowed to run very slowly for hours
at u time. Three or -four applica-
tions are sufficient in any ordinary
season.
No rain falls in the summer or
early fall, but this makes no differ
ence to the irrigator, for the water
in his canal is always ready and can
be applied whenever needed without
any fear of there being too much or
too little moisture, as is the case
where the rainfall alone is depended
upon. The irrigater is, in fact indie
pendent of seasons, and it must be
confessed that their enthusiastic
statements of the benefits of irriga-
ton appear to be well grounded.