'M\ KErOT5T or OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



Ill cH'orts lo ivclaini (his land, willi l)iii little sikhh'ss. Vov (he past, 

 two years wo have been stu(lyin«j: this soction to (letcriiiiiic why the 

 work already done has failed to i"elieve the adverse conditions, and 

 to map out a phm which will do this. 



Another lar<re nnder(akiii<r which has received attention is the 

 draina<^e of the Ever<ilades of h'lorida. It is estimated that there is 

 an area of ('»,000.00() acres now unlit for cultivation, o,0()(),()()() acres of 

 which hi'long to the State and can he made fit for use by drainap^e. 



After the construction of drainage outlets, underdrainage of farm 

 lands is usually necessary if the lands are to be completely reclaimed. 

 AAliile much of this work has been done successfully in various parts 

 of the country, in many ])laces the efficiency of such drains is ques- 

 tioned, owing to the fact that they may not have been properly put in. 

 In other sections there is still doubt as to whether underdrains will 

 work satisfactorily. This is the case in the valley of the Red River, 

 in INIinnesota and the Dakotas, where the ground freezes to a depth 

 of G feet. This question can be settled only by experiments, and these 

 Avill be carried out at the State experiment farms at Crookston, Minn., 

 and Fargo, N. Dak. Similar questions have arisen in Madison 

 County, 111., and in the Yazoo Delta, in IVIississippi, and there ex- 

 periments are being carried on. 



Another problem in southern agriculture is the prevention of ero- 

 sion on hillside farms. Three years ago experiments in the use of 

 underdrains for this purpose were begun in Jackson County, Ga. 

 These drains were placed across the slope in such a way as to pass 

 through points where seepage from higher lands cropped out, and 

 so far they have been successful, and the land which was previously 

 filled with gullies is now cultivated without the usual terraces or 

 ditches. Other methods of protection, particularlj^ the various forms 

 of terracing, have been investigated, to determine the adaptability of 

 the various forms in use to different slopes and types of soil. 



In most irrigated sections the reclaiming of lands which have been 

 rendered unproductive by seepage water from higher lands is of 

 great importance. The removal of this Avater is one of the most 

 perplexing problems in drainage. The w^ork of this Office on this 

 line has been carried on in cooperation with the owmers of the injured 

 land, who have usually put in the drains according to our plans and 

 under the direction of our agents. This class of work has been done 

 in places throughout the arid region. In Utah and Nebraska experi- 

 ments are being made in cooperation with the States. In both States 

 experimental farms have been established, where the work, if succes- 

 ful, will serve as demonstrations for landowners in the neighborhood 

 of these farms. Very favorable results have been attained, and this 

 has proved one of the most valuable branches of our drainage work. 



