120 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and 48 to 54 in., and analyzed. The results of analysis are given in 

 the following table: 



Analyses of Beeville soils. 



The conditions which tend to cause a rapid destruction of the 

 organic matter in these soils are discussed and the means of preventing 

 this loss arc explained, the use of velvet beans as a green manure being 

 especially recommended. The presence of sulphur and gypsum in the 

 geological formation from which the soils are derived probably partly 

 explains the rapid destruction of the organic matter. 



Climate and rain/all. — Data for rainfall, temperature, cloudiness, and 

 direction of the wind for each month from January, 1896, to August, 

 1897, are tabulated, and a chart shows the average annual precipitation 

 in different regions of Texas. The maximum temperature recorded 

 (104°) occurred in July and August, 1897; the minimum temperature 

 (19°) occurred in January, 1897. 



Agricultural water supply. — After general remarks on soil water, 

 absorptive power of soils, and effect of subsoiling, the underground 

 water supply of this region is discussed. It is stated that the region is 

 underlaid at a depth of from 50 to 150 ft. by "a coarse water-bearing 

 sand that supplies an abundant flow of good water in dug or bored 

 wells at all times. This water rises to within 30 ft. of the surface in 

 some cases, and cau be economically raised for irrigation purposes and 

 is largely used for domestic consumption. Windmills are in general 

 use, but thus far we have been unable to learn of tlie successful use of 

 mills for irrigating crops of more than 1 or 2 acres in each case." 



The flow of these wells is, however, decreased to a marked extent by 

 long-continued drought, the lowest point probably being reached during 

 the months of September and October. 



"'The well on the station grounds is dug to a depth of 57 ft., and a 4- inch hole 

 bored from this point to a depth of 74 ft. The water usually stands 8 ft. deep in the 

 dug portion of the well, or a distance of 49 ft. from the surface of the ground. 

 While using a windmill for driving the pump, the water fell some 20 ft. in this well, 

 and when pumping with a gasoline engine we exhausted the water to a point as far 

 down as was reached hy the deep-well cylinder, but on forty strokes per minute 

 (in April, 1897), this pump, on a 15-inch stroke, was run to lift 1,000 gal. of water 

 per hour for twelve hours, and in removing these 12,000 gal. the water in the well 

 was lowered, but not exhausted. 



