The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-14
TO INCREASE PRoDUCTIVBNEss.

Following the CALLS announcement O
great undertakings to bring down tn,
waters of the San Joaquin River to extend
the irrigated area of Fresno County, comes
the news that the Stanislaus and San Joa
quin Water Company, composed largely o
San Francisco capitalists, is hurrying Il
completion its canal, by which the waters
of the Stanislaus River are to be turned
upon the fertile plains in the vicinity O.
Oakdale, in Stanislaus County. The ar
duous and expensive TASK of making
fumes and tunnels TO bring down the
water from large reservoirs back in the
mountains has not deferred the promoter:
of the enterprise, whose efforts will result
not only in handsome profits to them
selves, but also in adding greatly to the
value of the district TO be irrigated.
While in the regions quite near the foot
hills there is generally no necessity fol-
irrigation, in the open plains removed from
the hills it makes horticulture independ-
ent of rains and thus eliminates practically
the only element of uncertainty that at
tends this enterprise in the great basin OF
the State. The only trouble with irriga-
ton is that the temptation to overdo it
on eager desire to increase the crops is
often strong. As result fruit produced
under these oyerdone conditions, while it
may be larger and more abundant than
that on non-irrigated lands, often lacks the
frmness which renders possible it's over
land shipment in the best form, and is de-
ficient in saceharine and flavor.
But moderate artificial irrigation in dis
NH ho hoe 70 10
cured by its employment is one of the
wisest and most profitable agencies that
California horticulturists can employ.
There are two others, however, equally
important cultivation and fertilization.
In the more highly developed horticultural
sections cultivation is carried to higher
finish than any other part of the United
States. This is the result of intelligence
that could make the best use of experience.
1t was learned not only that deep and
thorough stirring OF the soil produced
beneficial chemical changes from exposure
to sunshine and air, but that in the absence
of summer rains finely pulverized surface
acted as a mulch to prevent loss of moist
ure by evaporation.
Renewal of the soil by fertilization is the
next lesson that horticulturists must learn.
A few years ago we had talk with the
Professor of Agriculture in the University
of Edinburgh. He was on his way round
the world to study agricultural methods.
He expressed amazement at the fecundity
of the soil of California, and said that it
enjoyed one extraordinary advantage,
namely, that while its native fertility, as a
rule, was not much higher than that OF
virgin soils in other parts of this country,
the benefits which it received from sum
shine and air, under high cultivation, were
wonderful, In this particular alone, he
remarked, there seemed to lie vast field
for scientific investigation, and he added
that the State should employ some able
person to study that phase of the question
alone. But in spite of this, it grieved him
to observe that there are limitations upon
these resources, and that Californians are
squandering the wealth of the soil like
prodigals. In Scotland, where every foot
of arabic land has been cultivated for GEN.
turtles, agriculture thrives solely on arti-
fetal soils renewed with scientific exact
ness.
The State University has given exceed
ingly intelligent instruction in these mat
tiers, but it has received insufficient atten-
ton from producers. Cultivation having
been mastered as an art, and the value OF
careful irrigation having come to be under
stood. We must next learn the secret OF
keeping the soil vigorous.