AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 349 



iiiji increase in alkaliuity during ovajtoration? (2) Does the use of sulphurous acid 

 in the thick juice insure without disailvantagcs a lighter color of the first product? 

 (8) "What may be expected of the new Steffens method of handling heet .juice? (4) 

 The limestone material of the German sugar factories. (5) The causes of the 

 decrease in sugar liy long storage. (6) Relation of the sugar and ash content to 

 the purity coeilicient in sirups and molasses. (7) Molasses production. (8) The 

 normals in sugar-beet seed trade. (9) The result of feeding experiments -with beet 

 leaves (E. S. R. 8, p. 252). 



Beet sugar, methods of producing, etc., by a number of countries (Southern 

 Cnltivator, 15 (ISDG), Xo. 10, p. 3). — Statistics on the beet sugar production of 

 Germany, France, and the United States. 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



Surface and subirrigation out of doors, F. W. Rane {New Hamjh 

 shire Sta. Bid. 31, p]). 27, Jigs. 8). — This is an accoaut of a continuation 

 and extension of the work of the author on subirrigation in the green- 

 house, reported in Bulletin 33 of the West Virginia Station (E. S, R., 

 5, p. G80), undertaken in view of the growing importance of outdoor 

 irrigation in the East and the lack of definite information on the sub- 

 ject. The reasons for irrigation, sources of water supply, and economy 

 of water are discussed. The relative merits and disadvantages of sur- 

 face and subirrigation are explained and experiments with each in the 

 greenhouse and out of doors are described, with directions for the lay- 

 ing of tiles in the latter method and suggestions regarding cultivation, 

 mulching, and drainage. 



"Where jdenty of water is available -vve believe the best and most satisfactory- 

 results are secured by applying the water where needed through ditches. . . . 



"Three thousand six hundred and thirty cubic feet, or about 800 bbls., of water is 

 the amount estimated to cover 1 acre of ground to a depth of 1 in. — the amount rec- 

 ommended per acre for reservoir capacity. . . . 



"There are many instances where surface irrigation will be found the most eco- 

 nomical, not ojily where plenty of water is to be had, but where economj^ of water 

 is necessary. There are more advantages in favor of this method than are attributed 

 to it. After having exjierimented with subirrigation at various depths and upon 

 different soils, I would recommend caution before going into irrigation on a very 

 extensive scale, l)elieving that the extra expense in purchasing and laying tiles will 

 more than offset the expense of labor in surface irrigation. 



"Experiments with celery upon a clay loam, with water applied both through 

 ditches for surface irrigation, and through tiles below the reach of the plow for sub- 

 irrigation, showed that the latter sj'stem required much more water than the former 

 for the same results. 



"By taking advantage of the cloudy portions of the day and as well the shade 

 from the foliage of the plants, the loss from evaporation in surface irrigation is 

 greatly lessened. 



"The percentage of water saved in subirrigation out of doors is greatly reduced 

 on account of its soaking off in the soil below. 



"The fact that the tiles are out of siglit and their action unknown makes ordinary 

 subirrigation a little uncertain." 



[A method of tile irrigation which the author has found to possess decided advan- 

 tages over ordinary subirrigation] "was to place common porous 2A-in(;h drain tiles 

 in a continuous row, end to end, on the surface of the soil, vegetables being planted 



