UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENT STATION. BULLETIN NO. 1. [In order to render the results of investigations and experiments conducted by the Agricultural De- partment of the University of California more quickly and more generally available than has here- tofore been done through the annual or biennial re- ports, it is proposed to embody hereafter, in the form of " Bulletins," to be issued as often as may seem desirable, reports of results, as well as such other discussions, information or answers to questions as may be of general interest. It is intended to make these bulletins, as a rule, short enough for insertion in the daily or weekly papers of the State, and proof-slips of the same 'will be regularly mailed on application to papers applying therefor. The sub- stance of these bulletins will ultimately be embodied in a more complete and connected form, in the an- nual reports of the College ot Agriculture.] Examination of the "Water of the San Fer- nando Tunnel, Los Angeles County. It is well known that a stream of water of considerable volume flows from the great tun- nel through which the S. P. K. R. traverses the San Fernando range. The water has a decidedly mineral taste; but in view of the importance of utilizing every possible source of water supply in Southern California, its examination, with a view to determining its possible adaptation to irrigation was undertaken at the suggestion of Messrs. Kingsbury & Denis, of Los Angeles. The result of the analysis is given in the fol lowing table. The water leaves on evaporation a saline residue amounting to 67.6 grains per gallon. (Ordinary river and well waters contain from 6 to 12 grains. ) Treatment with water resolves this residue into an easily soluble and a diffi- cultly soluble or " insoluble " portion, as sep- arately given below : soluble part. Per cent. Grains of total per gall, residue. Sulphate of potassium 853 1.262 Sulphateof magnesium (Epsom salt) ...14.174 20.9<4 Sulphate of calcium (gyptum) 137 .203 Sulphate of sodium (Glauber's salt) 3.578 5.294 Chloride of sodium (common salt) 1.344 1.9S9 Carbonate of sodium (common soda) 2.069 3.062 Organic matter (by diff.) 4.372 6 470 INSOLUBLE PART. Carbonate of magnesia 1.80 s ) 2.677 Carbonate of calcium (lime) 6.18 j 0 9.138 Sulphate of lime (gypsum) 30.60)-': 45.276 Silica 2.10 § 3.076 Iron oxide and alumina 07 J .103 Total 67.258 9.524 The total amount of mineral ingredients in this water is far greater than is admissible in waters intended for domestic use of any kind. But even if the quantity were much less, the quality of the ingredients— including so large a proportion of gypsum and Epsom salt — renders it highly objectionable for drinking purposes; and it is only by the addition of a considerable amount of soda that it could be made to answer for washing. As regards its fitness for irrigation, it should be noted that out of the (in round numbers) 68 grains of solid contents nearly 41 belong to the " insoluble" class, and are in quality not only unobjectionable from the irrigator's point of view, but the bulk, being gypsum, is actually a benefit to most lands, especially to those afflicted with " black alkali. " It is only the remaining 27 grains of soluble matters that remain to be dealt with. Of these, the four grains of "organic matter " need not be considered; and of the remainder, the mainly objectionable portion is the 14 grains of sulphate of mag- nesium or Epsom salt, an accumulation of which in the soil would soon become very injurious, although small dressings of it in the guise of "kieserite" are used for fertilization in Europe and in the East. But in the lower San Joaquin valley it renders considerable tracts uncultivatable until it is removed. This can be done by the use of quicklime, of which about one-half of the amount of sulphate of magnesia present is needed for complete removal. The outcome of the mutual action of these sub- stances is gypsum and inert magnesia. Apply- ing, therefore, 7 grains of lime per gallon of the San Fernando water, or say three barrels of lime to every million of gallons, the alkaline salts remaining (about 9 grains) would not exceed what is found in many of the natural irrigation waters of the State. Whether or not such a correction of the water in question would pay, will have to be determined by local circumstances. Where land now uncultivatable can be made to produce high returns in fruit or grape culture, and from $10 per acre can be made worth $150 or more, the expenditure required may be not at all unreasonable. One million gallons per acre is equal to about four inches of rainfall, and this with the natural water supply will, in many cases, do all that is needful for successful and profitable culture. There is, however, one class of lands upon which this water would be an unmixed benefit just as it is. This is the alkali lands, such as those of Westminster, Anaheim and Orange. Here the use of gypsum supplies the natural antidote to the carbonate of soda, which is the chiefly injurious ingredient of the alkali, but which would be active first of all in decom- posing the objectionable Epsom salt, leav- ing the gypsum in the soil to counteract any excess or additional rise of the alkali from be- low. If, then, it be feasible, financially, to con- vey the San Fernando water to these lands, it could be utilized for a long time at least, with- out any correction. In using it on non-alkaline lands, also, it would probably remain harmless for some years on those soils naturally rich in lime. Whenever any injurious action is noted, the use of lime on the land, or in a reservoir fur- nishing the water can be made to correct it. It should not be forgotten that the large supply of gypsum and lime thas put on the land acts as an efficient fertilizer, and is not, therefore, an altogether unremunerative expense in itself. It should be mentioned in this connection that the examination of alkali spots existing on the Baldwin ranch has shown them to con- tain the same ingredients as the tunnel water, and to need the same corrective. It is there- fore probable that similar waters would largely be obtained by tunneling into the Sierra Madre at other points, and as the supply seems to be abundant, the question of their utilization is one of wide importance. E. W. Hilgard.