IRRTGATTON INVESTIGATIONS. 69 



to tho devolopinont of th(^ !ioiicultui(' of \\\v iirid iind seniiiirid portions 

 of tills counti'v, !uul wove iiulisp(Misiil)lc to the sec-urint^" of the ])est use 

 of hind Jind water. The work in drjiinao'e was o-reiitly extended during 

 the year, and is destined to have j»'reat practical usefulness in reclaiming 

 land no\\ unproductive and in promoting the success of farming in 

 nian\ of the leading agricultural States. 



The investigations authorized by Congress, of the use of various 

 forms of power in farm work, which were assigned to this Offic(\ deal 

 with the feature of American agriculture which has given us our 

 supremacy in the markets of the world. Other countries where this 

 phase of agi'icultural iMigineering litis not one-tenth the importance it 

 has with us are carrying on comprehensive investigations in the care 

 and use of farm machinery, and we can not wisely longer neglect them. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN THE ARID REGION. 



The distri])ution of the tield work in the various arid States has been 

 governed In' those features of irrigation practice most needing to be 

 improved and the places where they could be most effectively studied, 

 the latter being influenced in part by natural conditions and in part by 

 our cooperative arrangements made with tho State experiment stations 

 and the State engineers' offices. The following are the leading lines 

 of work carried on in the dift'erent arid States: 



(1) Kxperiments to lessen the loss and damage from seepage. 



{•2) Tmpro\'ement of methods of distributing and applying water, so 

 that the (juantit}" now used on one acre will suffice for two. 



(3) Gathering more accurate information about cost and feasibility 

 of pumping water for irrigation. 



(4) Improving methods of measuring water, and the organization of 

 farmers for its more just and S3'stemati(^ division among them. 



(5) Surve3's and investigations of districts needing drainage and 

 giving advice to districts and communities regarding the legal and 

 engiiu'cring ])ro1)lems of drainage. 



((!) Studies of the legal and social questions connected with the 

 diversion and use of streams in irrigjition. 



The need of the exercise of economy and skill by irrigators in the 

 use of the western water supply is becoming more and moi"e manifest. 

 The great extension of irrigation of citrus fruit in southern California 

 has so increased the demand for water that the surface and under- 

 ground supplies now availal)le will meet present needs only through 

 the eniplo3'nient of the best methods. As these orchards grow older 

 more water will be needed and their growth and maintenance re<(iiire 

 that waste and loss of water be stojiped as far as possi))le. Methods 

 can not be j)erfected by the uiiaide(l individual irrigator. The (|ues- 

 tiorw involved are so complex as to re(piire careful study b^- capable 



