188 EXPEEIMENT STATION. EECOED. 



cooperation with tlie States of Minnesota, Isew York, and Vermont, presents 

 tlie results of measurements of flow made on the streams in the St. Lawrence 

 River basin in 1913. 



The utilization of the subterranean reservoir of Egypt, V. M. Mosseei 

 (Bui. Union Agr. Egypte, 12 {1914), No. 104, PP- 61-97, pis. 3). — The author 

 reports an investigation of the underground waters of Egypt, and concludes 

 that the quantities of subterranean water potable and suitable for irrigation 

 that are lost annually to the sea during low water are immense. It is pointed 

 out that Egypt could profitably use a part of this water either for extending 

 summer cultivation or to obtain in certain years a quantity of water sufficient 

 to provide the complement of water which the Nile has been unable to bring 

 down at the time. 



The author proposes that the Egj'ptian Government develop the subterranean 

 water supply and suggests to this end that a subterranean barrier, consisting 

 of a networli of deep wells, be constructed to parallel the Mediterranean coast 

 at a distance of 80 km. (50 miles) from it. He estimates that such a barrier 

 will prevent the loss of the underground water to the sea and will conserve 

 for use 1,500,000,000 cubic meters of water in the period extending from March 

 to August. A quantity of water also will be placed at the disposal of a part 

 of Egypt sufiicieut to provide the amount needed during the time of the winter 

 cleaning of the canals. It is believed that the deduction of 1,500,000,000 cubic 

 meters of water will hardly affect the subterranean flow of water toward the 

 Nile during low water nor the amount needed by plants. 



It is further shown that the natural subterranean water added to the water 

 of the Nile is suitable for irrigation purposes, and that the cost of its elevation 

 with proper and satisfactory apparatus is not excessive. 



The value of large zinc pipes for carrying water, A. Rinck (Ztschr. TJnter- 

 such. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 28 {1914), No. 2, pp. 99-103; ahs. in Chem. Zenthl., 

 1914, II, No. 13, p. 844)- — Experiments showed that with long-continued ex- 

 posure to water the zinc acquired a coating of basic carbonate, which rendered 

 it considerably less soluble. After such pipes had been used a year, the solu- 

 bility of the zinc varied from 2 to 3 mg. per liter of water remaining in contact 

 with the zinc for several months. 



Note on the bacteriotoxic action of water, R. Greig-Smith {Proc. Linn. 

 Soc. N. S. Wales, 39 {1914), i)t. 3, pp. 533-537).— Experiments in which suspen- 

 sions of Bacillus prodigiosus and B. typhi were added to tap water, boiled and 

 unboiled, and filtered through a Chamberland filter, showed that, as a rule, the 

 growth of the organisms was retarded, especially in the case of the boiled 

 water. The conclusion is reached that " ordinary tap water contains sub- 

 stances of the nature of bacteriotoxins, the toxicity of which is increased by 

 boiling." 



Watering devices for moorland pastures, voN Schmeling {Mitt. Ver. Ford. 

 Moorkultur Deut. Reichc, 32 {1914), No. 21, pp. 390-393. figs. 2).— Arrangements 

 for obtaining clean water for stock are described. 



The drainage of Jefferson County, Texas, H. A. Kipp, A. G. Hall, and S. W. 

 Fbescoln (U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 193 {1915), pp. 40, pis. 2, fig. J).— This bulletin 

 reports the survey and plans for the drainage of an area of about 612,000 acres 

 in southeast Texas, the survey being completed December 1, 1912. 



The topography of the area is generally flat and level, with few unusual i^hysi- 

 cal features. Q^he predominating surface soils are fine sandy loams, loams, clay 

 loams, silt deposits, and muck, and all are underlain by a deep stratum of 

 clay. Limited areas of flne sand also occur in certain parts of the county. 



From observations of run-off and a consideration of factors affecting the 

 same in the area it is thought advisable to design the drainage improvements 



