The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-03

really deceived by the phantasies Of a
disordered intellect
CHARACTER OF SOIL OF DIS
TRICTS WHERE IRRIGATION
IS PRACTICED.
The districts of California in which
the practice of irrigation is attended
by the largest results are the orchard
regions, RANGING FROM WOOD
LAND, IN YOLO COUNTY, TO
STOCKTON, IN SAN JOAQUIN
COUNTY, THESE INCLUDE THE
REGION ABOUT SAN JOSE, IN THE
SANTA CLARA VALLEY; the Fresno
region and Kern County, in the San
Joaquin Valley, and the Riverside dis
trict, in the valley of the Santa Ana.
THE FIRST MENTIONED DIS
TRICT, EXTENDING DOWN THE
VALLEY OF THE SACRAMENTO TO
THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO,
AND THENCE UP THE SAN JOA-
QUIN TO STOCKTON, POSSESSES A
VERY RICH, DEEP ALLUVIAL SOIL
IN ALL ITS LOWER PORTIONS
along the margins of it's river chan
nels, which soil spreads out widely
along the shores of the bay. THE SUR
FACE OF THESE VALLEYS RISES
on a gentle grade from either side of
the river channel toward the foot of the
mountains, and this grade has an in
creased rate of inclination as the sur
face nears the foot of the mountain
slopes. As the valley surface rises
the alluvial soil gradually gives way
to soil washed down from the noun
tain slopes. This consists of quite a
large proportion of clay, containing
vegetable matter, WITH SAND AND
GRAVEL INTERVIEWED WITH 1T.
THIS SOIL IS IN GENERAL CALLED
BY THE MEXICAN NAME ADOBE
IT READILY SOAKS FULL OF WA
TER. AIDED BY THE SAND AND
GRAVEL IT CONTAINS, and as soon
as the surface dries, it becomes 'bak-
ed and is then about as hard as the
soft burned brick of our kilns. The
first of the districts mentioned as ly-
ing in the lower portions of the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin Valleys, NOT
HAVING ENOUGH RAIN TO IN
SURE THE COMMON RANGE OF
AGRICULTURAL CROPS, IS. LARGE
LY DEVOTED TO FRUIT PRODUC-
TION, WITH OCCASIONAL WHEAT
CROPS. The fruits produced are the
peach, plum, prune, apricot, cherry,
grape and the common range of small
fruits.
1.-THE ORCHARDS are IRRIGATED
by means of windmills pumping from
wells, in which water is reached at
depth of from II to IA feet. The guam
tity of water used varies from 1l,OOO
to II, 900 cubic feet month during the
four driest months in the summer. The
total amount supplied is sufficient to
cover the land irrigated 1874 inches
deep in that time. In some cases where
steam is employed to do the pumping,
the land so irrigated is covered three
feet in depth during the growing sea-
son, with a manifest advantage in
growth of trees and crop yield."-P. p.
47S-9 of work just named.)
We have taken the pains to look for
other publications on the subject, but
find none. If of the character of the
above we hope that our search has
been exhaustive, and that if any fur
Their publications of this character are
in preparation or contemplation that
their publication may be suppressed.
In Willis l. Moore's letter to Hugh
Craig advising against any move tend
ing to empower the State University
to make investigations into variations
in the causes of our water supply he
quotes the advice of catching our hare
before we cook him. ALL we object to
in his case is the use of antiquated
methods and smooth bore, small cali
bered guns in the attempt at catch
ing the hare, the possibility of storing
him too long between catching and
cooking, and the probability of his be-
ing spoilt in the cooking.
{ We have waited long and patiently
for the solution of problems relating to
our climatic conditions. We hoped to
have advanced and stimulated the re-
search necessary to the work. Success
sive officials of the bureau, educated
on the climate of the East, have come
out to California and have in a few
instances begun to master the differ
ences between our conditions and those
prevailing elsewhere in the United
States. When this stagesin their edu-
cation has been reached they are either
dispensed with, as in one case, or in
another, complimented as being an able
meteorologist and keen investigator,
and reminded that his report does not
claim to definitely prove anything
forgetfuI of the fact that these condi-
lions have been in existence long before
the Weather Bureau was inaugurated.
and that these vital problems have
been the subject of earnest study and
investigation before either of the gen.
tlemen referred to in the above cases
knew anything about the climatology
of California.
We have, however, this comforting
assurance from Mr.. Moore, that I'VE
shall do our duty to the Pacific Coast
in this matter, as We have heretofore
tried to do it in other matters, but we
will try to catch our hare before we
cook him." But if this duty consists
in advising our people as to the conduct
Of their State University, or Interfering
in any other function, we prefer that
he be restricted to Winding those duties
which are prescribed by law. II these
shall be we'll discharged in a broad
and scientific manner and without the
assumption that the Weather Bureau
can do 1t all, we viii be duly thankful,
and will be resigned to leave to pos
terity the solution of those problems for
which we have waited for half gener
alton for the Signal Service and Wealth
er Bureau to even attempt.
Charmion, the Acrobat.