The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-06-01
IRRIGATION

This department is open to contribu-
,ions from any one interested in irriga-
ton Make your articles as brief and
consise as possible and be careful TO
give facts and figures.
Irritation and Cultivation in California
(By an Ex-Californian.)
In Blalocks orchard near Walla
Walla and around Yakima, as well as
near Weiser and Payette, Idaho we
first saw irrigation as it is practised
in these states. 1t differs from that of
California where the writer has spent
many years in horticultural pursuits
under irrigation. We shall try to give
a short description of the way it is
done down there with some comment
Hoping that it may be of some value
to the readers of The Ranch.
The canal overseer sets and regu-
lates all headgatcs, letting water out
of the canal. The farmers own and
regulate the branch bitches. Some
time in January or February they call
a ditch meeting. The most important
business of this meeting is to decide
how many hours each one shall be al
lowed the whole or part of the stream
at each rotation, depending on the
amount of water owned or paid for.
A ditch boss is elected to see that all
goes right. Each branch controls it's
own affairs.
When the brush has been cleaned off
after pruning, the ground is plowed
and narrowed When time for irri-
cation comes the ground is furrowed
out, one furrow on each side of the
tree and one or two in the open space
between. Irrigation bitches are plow-
ed crosswise of the burrows, from ten
to forty rods apart, according to the
lay of the ground. When the hour for
taking the water comes the man with
the shovel is on hand, let's the water
into his irrigation ditch, then opening
as many burrows as are required to
control this stream. New burrows are
opened, filled and closed as the work
proceeds. In this way few men can
take care of big stream, one man to
each irrigation ditch. The operation
generally commences at the lower end
as one can work to better advantage
that way. When time is up for one
rancher the water is turned back into
the branch ditch and the next one
commences the operation.
AS soon as the ground is in shape
it is plowed crOsswise of the burrows.
The average depth of blowing is
good seven inches. No roots have any
business nearer the surface and the
cutting of young root with the pillow
will not injure the tree. AS the roots
grow thicker they come nearer the
surface In blowing old orchards the
plow sometimes strike, break and in
ure these rising roots. Do not change
the gauge of your pillow because of 1T,
but cut the root with sharp ak be-
tween the pillow and the tree at place
where it is eight or more inches under
ground. 1t will not hurt the tree any
more than the cutting of broken or
superfiuous branch would. If windy
during the irrigation operation While
the ground is soft and MILDLY the
roots near the surface are apt to rise
still more. Do not let the roots in the
orchard come too near the surface
The writer knows of a peach orchard
that was practically ruined by too
shallow blowing. The fact that the
roots were coming too near the sur
face did not leak out until the property
had changed hands.
After blowing, the ground is harrow
ed. Many give it second narrowing
later. The circle or rotary harrow