OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 207 



Wyouiiug; the irrigated and in-igable lands; the origin and nature 

 of interstate water-right controversies, and the need of closei* approach 

 to uniformity in State laws. 



Irrigation in the Rocky Mountain States (Bulletin Xo. 73, pp. 04), 

 by J. C. Ulrich, is intended to explain the agricultural conditions 

 prevailing and the methods of acquiring and using water for irriga- 

 tion i^racticed in that j)ortion of the arid region, covered more par- 

 ticularl}^ b}" the States of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and 

 Montana, in which the conditions and methods are somewhat similar, 

 the main purpose being to instruct those to whom the subject is new. 

 The topics discussed are general characteristics of the Rockj' Moun- 

 tain States; how canals and ditches have been built; operation of 

 canals; methods of applying water to the land; character of supply 

 and use of water; how water rights are acquired and maintained; 

 contracts between corporations and irrigators; and cost and condi- 

 tions of reclamation. An ai)pendix explains the methods of water 

 administration in the various States. 



The Use of Water in Irrigation in Wyoming, and Its Relation to 

 the Ownership and Distribution of the Natural Supph' (Bulletin Xo. 

 81, pp. oG), hj B. C. Buifum, professor of agriculture and horticul- 

 ture, Universit}^ of Wyoming, and vice-director of the Wyoming- 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, was prepared under the supervision 

 of Prof. Elwood Mead, expert in charge of irrigation investigations of 

 this Office, and forms a part of a comprehensive series of investiga- 

 tions on the use of water in irrigation in the arid region. The topics 

 treated include application of water to crops, water measurements in 

 Wyoming, dutj^ of water, the irrigating season, and continuous flow 

 as a basis for appropriation. 



Irrigation in Fruit Growing (Farmers' Bulletin Xo. 116, pp. 48), by 

 E. J. Wickson, is a practical treatise on this subject by a horticultur- 

 ist of long experience in California. This bulletin has already been 

 described on page 182 of this report. 



Rise and Future of Irrigation in the United States (Yearbook of the 

 Department of Agriculture, 1899, pp. 591-612) is a conci.se presentation 

 of the history, pre.sent status, and future prospects of irrigation in 

 this country-, with brief statements regarding some of the most impor- 

 tant problems affecting the further development of our irrigation 

 sj'stem. 



A detailed report on the measurements of the duty of water, made 

 under the direction of Professor Mead in a number of States during 

 the irrigation season of 1899, was prepared in this Office during the past 

 fiscal year and is now in press. This contains a larger amount of data 

 on this subject than has ever before been collected in this country. 



EXTENSION OF INVESTIGATIONS. 



As the appropriation for the irrigation investigations has been 

 increased from 835,000 to 850,000 for the current fiscal year, it will be 

 possible to materially increase the amount of work in the lines in 

 which the investigations are now proceeding. The feature of these 

 investigations which has thus far aroused most interest is that which 

 relates to the practical results of the irrigation laws and regulations 

 now in force in the arid region. The collection of data on this sub- 

 ject in a manner sufficiently thorough to give a correct view of the 

 existing situation, and an adequate basis for improved legislation and 

 administration, is a task of great magnitude. As stated elsewhere in 



