886 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 36 



area might be expected to yield enougti water for irrigation. ... It appears 

 probable that as much as . . . approximately 1 acre-foot per acre will be 

 annually available for irrigation within the district." 



Pumping tests on three wells in the area and tables of logs of wells in the 

 area are included. 



Critical judgment and use of the waters of the pampas, F. A. Mazza {An. 

 Soc. Cient. Argentina, 81 {1916), Nos. 1-2, pp. 11-128, pis. 8, figs. 6; 3-4, pp. 

 129-213, fig. 1). — This report deals in general with the geology and soils of the 

 pampas and the relation of soil and water, gives chemical analyses of both soils 

 and waters, and discusses the waters with reference to their use for domestic 

 purposes and irrigation and in the industries. 



The waters are divided into two types, those low in mineral content and those 

 highly mineralized. In general they are more alkaline than hard, but in the 

 highly mineralized waters the hardness is greater than the alkalinity. The 

 waters of low mineral content are said to contain very little sulphates and 

 chlorids, but are relatively rich in bicarbonates, while the highly mineralized 

 waters contain an abundance of chlorids and sulphates. The waters of low 

 mineral content are considered suitable for drinking, irrigation, and boiler use, 

 while the highly mineralized waters are said to be not fit for such uses. 



The divining rod: A history of water witching, A. J. Ellis {U. S. Geol. 

 Survey, Water-Supply Paper 416 {1917), pp. 59, figs. 4). — This is an outline of 

 the history of the use of the divining rod for locating underground water 

 supplies and of so-called water witching, and includes an introductory note by 

 O. E. Meinzer and an extensive bibliography of works bearing on the subject. 



" The outline of the history of the subject presented will probably enable 

 most honest inquirers to appreciate the practical uselessness of ' water witching ' 

 and other applications of the divining rod. ... It is difficult to see how for 

 practical purposes the entire matter could be more thoroughly discredited." 



The advice is given to all inquirers " not to expend any money for the 

 services of any ' water witch ' or for the use or purchase of any machine or 

 instrument devised for locating underground water or other minerals." 



Irrigation module investigations, 1913 {Olav. Uprav. Zemleustr. % Zemled., 

 Gidrom. Chast [Pub.], 1914, Nos. 1, pp. XII+387+49, pis. 17, figs. 18; 2, pp. 

 XIX+391+S44, pis- 79, figs. 44; 3, pp. VII +460+11, pis. 19, figs. SO; 4, pp. 

 [III'\+49; 1915, No. 5, pp. [I in +39, pis. 11).— This report is in four volumes 

 and deals with duty of water investigations in Turkestan in 1913. 



The soils of the regions studied consist mainly of fine-grained loess, 

 sand, coarse dust, dust, silt, and fine particles. Experiments with alfalfa, 

 cotton, winter wheat, and corn showed that for alfalfa the module is 0.36 

 second-liters per dessyatina (0.035 second-gallons per acre) for cotton 0.31 

 second-liters, for wheat 0.25 second-liters, and for corn 0.38 second-liters. Ex- 

 periments on flooding and furrow irrigation are also reported. 



It was found that a single irrigation of more than 128 cubic sagenes per 

 dessyatina (a depth of about 4.5 in.) checks the growth of cotton temporarily. 

 An irrigation of 910 cubic sagenes for the season giving not more than 227 

 cubic sagenes at each irrigation increased the height of cotton but delayed 

 its ripening. The irrigation of cotton during blooming delayed its ripening at 

 the rate of three days per each 100 cubic sagenes. The most profitable appli- 

 cation of water to cotton proved to be 384 cubic sagenes per dessyatina per 

 season, divided into three to four irrigations. 



A better yield of cotton was obtained with check irrigation than with flood 

 irrigation of cotton planted broadcast. The yield of cotton was also increased 

 by watering the soil previous to planting. The best interval between irrigation 

 In check irrigation of cotton was about two weeks and in flood Irrigation two 



