RURAL ENGINEERING. 587 



tnNitiiijx the lollowiiii,' sulidivisioiis of the subject : delinitions, maps, and scales; 

 description of insli-uiiieiits used for various jiurposes; testing and adjustment 

 of instruments, allowable errors, etc.; methods of leveling; general use of 

 instruments and methods of surveying; speeial applications; land subdivisions 

 and estai)lishmeut and verification of land titles. 



The assessment of drainage districts, li. K. AsiiiiArcii (Cliictii/o: Western 

 Nor/c/// of JJiit/iiierrs. IfKK!. /</>. ///, fiijs. 2). — A discussion of the methods of 

 making assessments of land in drainage districts as governed ii.v the iirinciple 

 that assessments must bi> ])roi)ortionate to benefits received. Arithmetical exam- 

 ])les are given showing how to distribute expenses over the various tracts of a 

 drainage enterprise. 



Cement drain pipe {Miiseli. Zh/., '/ {UKKj}. Xo. Ul. p. isii. fuj. 1). — Cement 

 drains are said (o have certain advantages over the usual tile in lliat the latter 

 are seldom round and become warped and bent in Imrning, wliile (he former are 

 clean and glaxed on the interior and are of uniform size and shajie. The 

 (U'sired porosity can be given the cement pii)e by using a mixture l)y volume of 

 one to eight. It is claimed tliat cement pipes are cheaper than the earthenware 

 tile and that they sln)w no deterioration in use. 



A hand-operated machine is described by which cement i)ipe can be very 

 conveniently made in lengths of 13 in., and of diameter from 1 to !) in. 



Artesian irrigation, W. K. Fry (Agr. (J as. N. 8. Wales. 11 (J'JOG), No-s. 6, 

 1)1). .'>Sl-.-,ss, fl;/.s. (>; 7, pii. GH.i-GOo, figs. 5; 8, pp. 7S0-7S!:>, fifjs. -).).— The author 

 discusses the jKissibility of irrigating portions of New South Wales by artesian 

 water. While irrigation is not always necessary, the country freciuently suffers 

 from drougiits, ■a\u\ in llie absence of permanent streams, irrigation from artesian 

 wells or by jiuniping from driven wells becomes a necessity. 



The underground wntei", however, is saline in character, usually containing 

 MA grains nf solid matter per gallon, most of which is sodium carbonate. After 

 7 years of irrigation w itii this water, an analysis of the soil as compared with 

 virgin soil from the same locality shows no increase in the alkaline content, 

 which i)robably " is due to the method of cultivation adoi)ted." This consists 

 in careful furrow irrigation, the aim being to get the water into the soil rather 

 than on it. The soil in the locality where most experiments have been carried 

 on contains 18 per cent of sand and 71 per cent of fine matter, chiefly clay. 

 The crops successfully grown ar(> the cereals, saltbush, sorghum, cowjieas, and 

 melons. Orchards are also successfully irrigated. 



Irrigation in the Transvaal, F. A. Hurley (Traiisi-anI ,l//r. Join:, Jf 

 (IDOd). \o. Ji). pp. l.i.i-l'/:!). — The writer discusses some of the practical 

 aspects of the irrigation situation in the Transvaal and indicates some (jf the 

 difliciUties <-itten(lant upon the introduction of irrigation in that region. One 

 of tlie cliief of these is tlie present water law, which is based upon the primi- 

 tive water laws of other countries, and under which it is imi)ossibIe to secure 

 a i)ermanent water right. The water laws are at present under investiga- 

 tion by a conunission. Other difficulties encountered are the physical 

 features of the country, ignorance of hydrographic conditions, popular igno- 

 rance of the manner in which it is desirable to prepare estimates for irriga- 

 tion schemes, labor, and transportation, the state of the markets, and lack 

 of cooperation among farmers. 



With regard to the government policy to be pursued, the author suggests 

 a cam])aign of education in order to outline the manner in which the different 

 districts are to be finally irrigated; then, if the law penults, the construction 

 or encouragement of small schemes, or the construction of large schemes 

 where future develoi)meut may render them desirable. 



