714 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



variations. Averages of the observed duty for a few crops, with the period during 

 which they require water, are given in the following table: 



Water rerjuired by different crops, and the irrigating season for each. 



! Depth of 

 '^ ^"P- : irrigation. 



Feet. 



Potatoes '■ 3. 94 



Alfalfa I 3-39 



Orchard 2. /6 



Wheat 2. 68 



Sugar beets I 2. 15 



Oats 1'3 



Barlev 1-^9 



Corn 1-^0 



Irrigating season. 



May 17 to Sept. lr>. 

 Apr. 1 to Sept. 22. 

 Apr. 15 to Sept. 2. 

 Apr. 1 to 'ulv 26. 

 Julv 13 to Aug. 17. 

 May 22 to Aug. 20. 

 Jmie 12 to Aug. 1. 

 July 24 to July 29. 



''The average depth given for wheat is undoubtedly too large, on account of the 

 excessive quantities used in Nevada. The season for sugar beets, as given in the 

 table, refers to iNIontana alone, and is too short for States farther south. It should be 

 extended at least to September 1. Making these allowances, the table shows that in 

 general the crops requiring the most water have the longest seasons. The statements 

 made in this table are of value as showing what crops can be raised with a given 

 water supply. The grain crops require the least water, and require it at a season of 

 the year when the streams supply the most. Orchards, potatoes, alfalfa, and sugar 

 beets require water during the season when the flow of streams is at a minimum, and 

 hence only small areas of these crops can be raised without storing water. On the 

 other hand, these crops give much larger returns than the grain crops." 



The report contains summaries of the progress made in experiments with irrigation 

 in the humid region — XeV^raska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Xew Jersey — and of observa- 

 tions on pumping water for irrigation, which are of special interest. 



"The measurements of the quantities of water used and lost, and the savings made 

 by the adoption of regulations under which farmers pay for the quantity of water they 

 receive, give reason to believe that the present canals and the existing water su2:)j)ly 

 can be made to serve at least double the area now farmed, with a po.'sibility of still 

 further economies and a further development." 



What the Department of Agriculture is doing-for irrigation, E. ^Ie.xd ( F. S. 

 Dept. ^Igr., Olfice of E.rjieriinent Stations Circ. 4S, ]>]>. 4)- — A brief outline. 



Watsr supply and irrigation in Nevada, L. IL T.wlor {Xevada Sta. Bid. 52, 

 fp. 64, pis. 12, maps 3). — This bulletin discusses the general topographic features of 

 Nevada, precipitation — rain and snow — run off, evaporation, character of streams, 

 subsurface waters, seepage waters, and water storage, with a detailed account of the 

 investigations of the U. S. Geological Survey on the water supplies of the Truckee, 

 Carson, Walker, and Humboldt rivers and other streams. The extent, methods, and 

 possibilities of irrigation in the State are also briefly discussed. 



"At the present time probably not less than 325,000 acres of land from which 

 crops are harvested are under water, and nearly if not quite as much more are irri- 

 gated for jiasturage purposes. While it is not possible to state just where these lands 

 are, it is safe to say that fully half are on the Humboldt Eiver and its tributaries, 

 about one-fourth on the Truckee, Carson, and Walker rivers, and the remainder 

 scattered over the State, generally in small tracts and in isolated localities. Of the 

 cropped area it is estimated that fully one-half is devoted to the production of native 

 grasses for hay, while perhaps over half of the remainder is in alfalfa and other 

 forage crops, and the 1 alance, or about 80,000 acres, is employed for the production 

 of cereals and general farm produce. . . . 



"In general the methods of applying water to the growing crops are the most 

 crude. . . . All over the State there is a general lack of system, not only in the 



