IRRIGATION. The aridity of the climate of California is not so extreme as is generally sup posed, nor is it without its advantages. In most parts the rainfall of the spring months is sufficient for the development 4)f the early-ma turing crops, the numerous mountain streams supply a source of irrigation for the production of the more valuable or the later maturing crops. In nearly every county some farming is done without the aid of irrigation. The irrigated area, however, is being constantly and rapidly extended, and is exceeded only by that in Colorado, although the value per acre of the prodnets of the irrigated land is couch greater than that of Colorado or any other State. In 1900 the advantages of irrigation were afford ed to 35.4 u r cent. of the total number of farms, and to 12.r per cent of the total improved acre age, or 1,446,000 acres of land. The irrigated farms averaged only 57 acres in area. The aver age cost, per aere irrigated, of the construction of for irrigation was $10.30 for the State, but in certain districts, and particularly in the southern eminties. the cost is much higher, reaching $12.57 in San Diego County. There are 152,500 acres irrigated from wells and tunnels, but the greater portion receives its supply from streams and other surface sources.
.As a result of the growing irrigation facili ties, the horticultural products are becoming especially prominent. Many varieties of horti cultural plants, difficult or impossible to raise in other States. and for a supply of which the country w't formerly dependent upon imports from abroad, are now produeed with great suc cess in California. This is especially true of the regions where the rainfall is lightest, and the it,(:cess ons ity and cite advantages of irri gation are greatest—i.e. on the southern Pacific coast and in the valley of the San Joaquin. But more recently the development of fruit: growing in the Saeramento has made irrigation prominent in that region, the application of the system being greatly facilitated by the utiliza tion of abandoned (birdies, originally used as water -conduits in connection with hydraulic mining. In the ventral and northern coast re
gions the natural rainfall, unaided by irrigation, is adequate even for fruit-culture. The cultiva tion of fruit and the preparation of it for the market now give employment to more people than any other industry. Of the great variety of horticultural plants grown in the State. the most notable are the vine, the citrus fruits, oranges and lemons, and the prune, the latter being more extensively cultivated than any other orchard fruit in the State.
Viticulture was early introduced by the Span iards. but no specialty was made of it until 1857. At present it receives much attention in almost every agricultural section of the State. The choicest and hardiest European wine-grapes passed. and they have come to occupy an accept ed place among the staple products of the State. Almonds are grown principally in the central part of the State: olives and walnuts in the southern part; while figs and apricots have a more general distribution. A large number of other tropical or semi-tropical fruits and nuts are now being successfully introduced. Vege tables are raised in great abundance, being shipped abroad. The conditions are especially favorable for the sugar-beet, the State ranking with Michigan in the production of that plant. The following table shows the development of the fruit industry for the last decade: have been imported, and are rapidly replacing the less desirable varieties. The phylloxera has created great havoc, and the only way of over coming it seems to be by grafting choice varie ties of grapes on native wild vines known as resistant vines, which the phylloxera will not attack. The production of wine and raisins (see table below) has reached enormous proportions, and the State supplies the whole country with table-grapes of superior qualities. Fresno County is especially famous for its raisin crop.