52o SCIENCE PROGRESS 



author should have the assistance of an engineer who has been responsible for 

 some actual designs. 



J. Wemyss Anderson. 



Irrigation Engineering. By Arthur Powell Davis, D.Sc, and Herbert 

 M. Wilson, C.E. [Pp. xxiv + 640, with 249 figures and lix tables.) 

 (New York : John Wiley & Sons ; London : Chapman & Hall, 1919. 

 Price 2 1 s. net.) 



So much has been written lately on the "education of the engineer" — in which 

 neither of the terms, "education" nor "engineer," have been understood, much 

 less defined, that it is a positive recreation to read the preface to this volume 

 (seventh edition). 



The engineer, it clearly points out, must be capable of grasping the social, 

 political, and economic conditions of the country in which he works. 



Irrigation practice differs, and differs very widely in different countries, not 

 only on account of the customs and labour available, but on account of the 

 difference in the soils, plant life, and food, and the duty of water on the varying 

 lands and plants. 



Then again, a number of other important points have to be considered, an 

 outstanding example of which is given on p. 185: "It is said that large areas 

 in India, formerly subject to occasional famine caused by failure of crops on 

 account of drouth, were relieved by irrigation works to counteract the drouths, 

 only to find that the mortality from malaria induced by the marshes resulting from 

 irrigation was greater than that formerly due to famine." 



The reviser of this edition (Dr. Davis) has succeeded in incorporating in his 

 work all the technical details necessary to the irrigating engineer, together 

 with an ample chemical, geological, and botanical treatment. References and 

 guidance are given to those who wish to dig wider and deeper into any one of 

 the numerous subdivisions into which irrigation engineering is divided. 



Now that our men of pure science have realised what a field of investigation 

 the engineer opens out to them, and how much the engineer would be indebted 

 to pure science for better and deeper guidance, we have no hesitation in saying 

 that irrigation forms an ideal example of such a field, and that this volume 

 would form an excellent guide as to where further investigation is needed. Can 

 any one deny that the medical man and the engineer, working together, could 

 not prevent famines, without fear of malaria? 



Finally, we venture once more to ask why all the best engineering books are 

 now coming from U.S.A. ? 



J. Wemyss Anderson. 



Applied Mechanics. Vol. II.: Strength of Materials. By Charles 

 E. Fuller, S.B., and William A. Johnston, S.B. [Pp. xii + 556, with 

 282 figures.] (New York : John Wiley & Sons ; London : Chapman & r 

 Hall, 1919. Price 17s. 6d. net.) 



A casual glance at this volume would, no doubt, result in it being classed with 

 the many excellent books on the strength of materials at present on the market. 

 Closer study, however, indicates that the authors' claim that "considerable attention 



