RURAL, ENGINEERING. 489 



Data are presented as to the duty of water for various crops, showing the 

 use of from 0.8 to 0.82 ft. for citrus fruits, 0.45 ft. for deciduous fruits and 

 diversified crops, and from 2.3 to 2.4 ft, for alfalfa. The cost of irrigation under 

 prevailing methods is computed to be $24 per acre for oranges and $35 per acre 

 for alfalfa. 



It is maintained that the quantity of water being used is closely approaching 

 the limit of the available supply, though some improvement is ix)ssible through 

 conservation as well as by the construction of storage works. " But there must 

 be an end to such works, and the extreme measures taken emphasize the fact of 

 the scarcity of water to be had in large quantities. About 250,000 acres are now 

 irrigated in the coast region of southern California. Work now progressing 

 and other possible developments may add another 150,000, but finally the only 

 possible further increase must come from a more economical use of the water 

 available. Little improvement can be made over the best systems now in use 

 in the transmission of the water from its source to its point of use. The great- 

 est opportunity for saving is in a more economical application of the water to 

 the land, and, moreover, whatever may be saved is as useful in the development 

 of additional territory as the same amount of water from new sources, and it 

 may be cheaper." 



Irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley, California, V. M. Cone (U. 8. Dept. 

 Agr., Office Expt. Stas. Bui. 239, pp. 62, pi. 1, figs. 15). — This bulletin reports 

 cooperative work between this OflBce and the State of California. 



" The San Joaquin Valley includes nearly half the valley lands of California, 

 and is noted for its productivity and adaptability to a wide range of crops. 

 Irrigation, however, is necessary throughout the greater part of the valley to 

 bring about the highest development. This report shows the possibilities and 

 advantages of irrigation and the cost of water." 



Data are given as to the climate, soils, water resources, population, trans- 

 portation facilities, and agricultural and horticultural development of the 

 valley, with details as to the streams and the lands irrigated by them. About 

 4,800,000 of the 7,360,000 acres in the floor of the valley are irrigable. Agri- 

 cultural development is, however, handicapped by lack of state control of the 

 water resources and the prevalence of wasteful methods and much litigation. 

 '• Wasteful methods have resulted in waterlogging large portions of the older 

 irrigated sections, and but little effort has been extended toward restoring them 

 to their former state of productiveness. Drainage, therefore, is emphatically 

 needed and should go hand in hand with irrigation as a prevention and cure 

 for such damage. . . . 



" The San Joaquin Valley has made a great growth. The acreage under 

 irrigation is increasing each year, and in the irrigated sections there is appar- 

 ent progress and prosperity. A large acreage is being planted to vines and trees 

 and other permanent crops, and much care and intelligence are shown in the 

 work. The natural advantages of the valley will insure its continued progress, 

 but it can not reach the development of which it is possible and provide homes 

 for the greatest number unless some of the handicaps are removed." 



Agricultural observations on the Truckee-Carson irrigation project, F. B. 

 Headlet and V. Fulkerson (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 78, pp. 

 20, fig. 1). — This circular presents data and agricultural observations on the 

 Truckee-Carson irrigation project in western Nevada, particularly as noted at 

 the experiment farm operated at Fallon, Nev,, in cooperation with the Nevada 

 Station (E. S. R.. 22, p. 35). It describes the physical features of the project, 

 showing the object and result of tree planting and what success may be ex- 

 pected with forage crops, vegetables, and fruits. It is shown that practically 



