RURAL ENGINEERING. 11(57 



(l;ita aoouimilatod have a more partienlar vnlu(> to tlie respective localities than 

 to any others, but the experience so far derived indicates that check gates are 

 necessary at various points in the drains, which may be closed when irrigation 

 water is applied and opened later for drainage. Otherwise soil is washed into 

 (he drains, it being evident from the experiments that more care was necessary 

 in the irrigation of under-drained than ordinary fields. 



Some suggestions are also made as to needed amendments in tlu' existing 

 drainage law. 



Making the most of a small water supply, 11. II. Fouijes (Arizona Sta. Bui. 

 54, pp. lOS-111, fij/s. 2). — The author di'scril)es a system of water distribution 

 esjiecially adapted for orchards and vineyards, in which a pipe leads from the 

 reservoir or innnj) along the lines of trees or shrubs, a small bole being bored 

 in the pipe opposite each plant. 



Some experiments were made iipon the flow of water from such sii\:ill oi-ilices, 

 from which in connection with practical considerations it was dcM-ided tliat the 

 smallest orifices, or those of 3^2 in. in diameter, gave the l>est results. The i)ipe 

 is laid slightly below the surface and each orifice discharges into a shallow 

 basin surrounding the tree or shrub. This basin is mulched over with manure 

 or <'hip dirt which greatly lessens evaporation. The irrigation ])Iant described 

 by the author consists of a well with water at a depth of !)0 ft., a '.', by 1-i in. 

 pump cylinder operated by a 12-ft. geai'ed windmill, a .^).()(Ki-gal. tank, and dis- 

 tribution lines of f-in. pipe. This irrigates, even in a region of light winds, 87 

 useful trees and 32 vines and bushes, besides furnishing the domestic supply for 

 a house, thus showing the possible use which can be made of a very small water 

 sui)ply. 



Weirs for irrigating streams, G. E. P. Smith (Arizona Sta. Bui. 5Jf, pp. 

 111-111. //.'/. 7). — The author describes the Cipolletti weir, giving the conditions 

 which must be observed in its construction and including a table of discharges 

 for a weir 1 ft. in width. 



Determination of stream fl.ow during the frozen season, H. K. Barrows 

 and Iv. K. IIorton (IJ. H. Gcol. ,Siirrcii. Water-Hiipi)!]! (Did Irrig. Paper No. 187, 

 pp. .9,3, pi. 1, fif/s. I'l). — In this paper the authors discuss the modifications of, 

 the usual methods of stream measiu'ements which are necessary to secure good 

 results when the streams are ice covered. The conditions affecting the f(n*ma- 

 tion of ice and its effect on stream flow are considered in some detail particularly 

 with reference to the formation of the ice sheet and the variation in slope due 

 to freezing. 



The methods of obtaining winter records of stream flow are described, these 

 consisting u.sually of readings of gage heights and current-m(>ter discharge 

 measurements. The reading of gage heights is taken to the water surface as 

 shown in a hole choi)ped in the ice. The discharge measureuKMits are secured 

 by the velocity determinations at holes cut in the ice at points in the cross 

 section. Soundings are referred to the surface of the water in the holes. 

 Velocity measurements are made at 0.2 and O.S of the tota.l depth (below the 

 bottom of the ice), tlK^ mean velocities ;it these two points being very nearly in 

 the mean velocity of the vertical. 



The results of stream measurements during the frozen season are given for a 

 number of streams in the northeastern United States, the period covering 

 several years. The vertical velocity curves from the results of these measure- 

 ments show, as is to be expected, a greater drawing back of the curve in its 

 upper pt)rtion on account of the retarding effect of the ice than do curves in 

 wliicb llie frictioTi effect at the upper surface is merely that of the air. 



Progressiveness in Italy, II. C. Weeks (.Sfci'. Amcr. Si(p., 63 (1907), No. 

 Ib.n, PI). 26233-26235, fiys. 3). — The article describes in some detail the con- 



