LXVI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



long-continued drought. Interesting and valuable investigations 

 regarding the use of water for irrigation in New Jersey have been 

 made by Professor Voorhees, director of the New Jersey agricul- 

 tural experiment stations. The results of these investigations have 

 recenth" been published, and they indicate that the practice of irriga- 

 tion has been quite profitable in that State as far as it has been tried. 



Similar investigations are being undertaken in Missouri and Wis- 

 consin in cooperation with the experiment stations in those States. 

 A preliminar}^ survey was also made of the conditions " of irrigation 

 practice in the rice fields and sugar plantations of the Southern States. 

 This indicated that there is great opportunity for improvement in the 

 methods and use of water in that region, and it is hoped that it may 

 be possible to undertake a study of some of these problems in the near 

 future. 



A report on the irrigation system of Hawaii is now in press. A 

 popular bulletin on the practice of irrigation in connection with horti- 

 culture has been issued and widely distributed. 



Although the irrigation investigations now in charge of this Depart- 

 ment have been in progress too short a time to permit the publication 

 of extended reports, it is believed that they have already had impor- 

 tant results. As the basis for these investigations, an effort has been 

 made to ascertain the actual needs of the people of the irrigated region 

 as regards the investigation of irrigation problems. This has led to 

 widespread discussion of this subject in agricultural and other associ- 

 ations, as well as in the public press. Through the publications of 

 this Department already issued and the addresses of our agents in pub- 

 lic meetings in different parts of the irrigated region, the existing con- 

 ditions have been described as accurately as a preliminary survey would 

 permit. The lines along which investigations must proceed have also^ 

 been definitely pointed out. In this wa}' the experience alreadj" 

 obtained b}" the experiment stations, State engineers, and officers and 

 experts in irrigation matters has been brought to bear on the public 

 mind more effectiveLv than heretofore. The result has been a great 

 quickening of interest in this matter throughout the West, together 

 with a larger and more definite realization of the importance of the 

 development of our irrigation system and the intricate nature of the 

 problems involved. A great desire has been awakened to have an 

 accurate and complete showing of facts, on which permanent improve- 

 ment alone can be based. This has led to hearty cooperation of the 

 people and local authorities in our investigations wherever they have 

 been undertaken and demands for our work far beyond our ability 

 to meet. 



AVhile the earnestness with which these demands are pressed is very 

 largely due to the urgent needs of localities and individual farmers and 

 ditch owners for the remed34ng of evils affecting their inmiediate 



