420 Bulletin 92 



the winter when work is slack. The winter is the dull season for the 

 refiners, oil stocks are accnmulatin^-, and lower prices can be obtained. 



There is a belief prevalent in some comniunities that oil becomes 

 stratified in storage, the lighter oils rising to the top. To test this 

 question, ecjual parts of gasoline and kerosene were mixed and al- 

 lowed to stand twenty-four hours, when it was found that the upper 

 third, the middle and the lower third were of exactly the same gravity. 

 \\ hile unloading a car of j^as oil, six samples were taken and tested. 

 They were exactly the same except the last sami)le which represented 

 the last oil to be flrawn out. This was very slightly heavier than the 

 others. In another test, a hydrometer jar was half filled with gas oil, 

 and the remaining space was filled with gasoline very carefully so that 

 the line between the two oils was distinct. DilYusion proceeded slowlv, 

 but was quite comjjlete in two weeks. Several times when gas oil of 

 poor (]uality has been distributed, farmers have found it necessary U) 

 purchase gasoline to mix with the gas oil. in such cases the gasoline 

 should be ])iped to the bottom of the tank or some agitation may be 

 required. 



THE OUTLOOK FOR PUAIP IRRIGATION 



One purpose of this bulletin is to give a look ahead to pump irri- 

 gators and those contemplating new or enlarged pumping plants. 



The reports of the U. S. Geological Survey show clearly that 

 consumption of petroleum oil is increasing much faster than supply. 

 Exports are decreasing; imports are increasing. In September, 1920, 

 consumption reached the high record figure of 48,670,000 barrels, 

 while the production stood still at 38,000,000 barrels. California is 

 the largest producing state and Oklahoma stands second. For the 

 Pacific states, it is stated in the Standard Oil Bulletin, the production 

 for 1920 will be 101,000,000 barrels and the consumption is estimated 

 at 110,000,000 barrels, the dift'erence being drawn from reserve stocks, 

 which were already very low at the beginning of the year. 



It does not appear that fuel oils will be obtainable again at low 

 prices, at least for some years. Can irrigators continue to pav present 

 or increased prices? The cost of pumping depends, not only on the 

 cost of fuel oil, but also on the lift and on the general efficiency of the 

 plant. For the average individual ])umping ])lant. the cost, on a basis 

 of 80 acres under irrigation, in alfalfa or doublc-cro{)pe(l, with gas oil 

 at 18 cents a gallon, including fixed charges, is $18 per acre on a 40- 



