484 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



foot per second. The heads of water used per acre averaged 0.052 cu. ft 

 per second before submergence and 0.034 during submergence. The lowest 

 used was on fields with heavy retentive soil, where the preparation was good 

 and the water carefully handled. The average annual use over a three-year 

 period on a field near Biggs was 4.6 acre-feet per acre. During the three 

 irrigation seasons the average precipitation was 0.23 ft. and evaporation 3.19 

 ft. Irrigation practice and requirements in California differ from those in 

 the Gulf States, due mainly to different climatic conditions. 



" Adequate drainage is essential to successful rice production. Planting and 

 harvesting are both delayed while the soil remains wet and the removal of 

 alkali salts and the relief of water-logged lands are dependent upon drainage 

 facilities. 



" The results of experiments made in 1914 to 1916, inclusive, on black clay 

 adobe soil near Biggs indicated that 30 days after eraergenne of the plant Is 

 the best time for commencing submergence and that 6 in. is probably the most 

 advantageous depth of submergence. Very poor yields were secured where 

 no water was held on the land. Fluctuating the depth of water had very little 

 effect on plant growth. More uniform temperatures of the water were found 

 with the greater depths of submergence." 



Annual irrigation revenue report of the Government of Bengal for the 

 year 1915-16 (Ann. Irrifj. Rev. Rpt. Bengal, 1915-18, pp. IS. pi. i).— This re- 

 ports administration work, expenditures, engineering projects, and revenues 

 for the year 1915-16. 



Kiver discharge, J. C. Hott and N. C. Grovek (.Vfir York: John Wiley rf 

 Sons, 1916. J/, rd. rev. and ml., pp. XI I +210. pin. 11, flg/t. 39).— This is the 

 fourth revised and enlarged edition of this book (E. S. R.. ;J3. p. 287). Chapter 

 5, on DLscussion and Use of Data, has been largely rewritten, and chapter 6, 

 formerly entitled Conditions Affecting Stream Flow, has been expanded in 

 scope to cover the field of hydrology as relate<l to stream flow and the title 

 changed accordingly. 



Geology and water resources of Big Smoky. Clayton, and Alkali Spring 

 Valleys. Nevada. O. E. Mkinzeb (C7. S. Gcol. Survcij. Watcr-Supply Paper ^2.? 

 (1911), pp. 161. pis. 15, figs. 11).— The fir.^^t part of this report deals with the 

 geology and water resources of a desert area of l..?00 square miles extending 

 from the center of Nevada to within 20 miles of the California line. 



" Several tens of thousands of acre-feet of ground water is probably con- 

 tributed each year to the underground re.servoirs of Big Smoky Valley. A part 

 of this supply could be recoveretl for irrigation. Most of this water is in the 

 upper valley, but a part is In the vicinity of Millers, in the lower valley. The 

 water is in general of sati.sfactory quality for Irrigation. Nearly all the iK>or 

 water is in the southwestern part of the lower valley, where prospects for 

 irrigation are practically lacking. 



"A small part of the ground-water supply can be recovered by flowing wells, 

 but full u.-^e of the supply is possible only by pumping. Throughout the ex- 

 tensive areas in which the depth to the water table does not exceed 10 ft. the 

 soil contains injurious amounts of alkali. In the areas in which the depth 

 to the water table ranges between 10 and 50 ft. there is enough good soil to 

 utilize all the available ground water. These areas, however, also contain con- 

 siderable gravelly, sandy, and alkaline .soil. 



" There are some prospects of obtaining flowing wells wherever the water 

 table is near the surface, but the pro.«!pects are best on the west side of the 

 upper valley. The flowing-well areas will be found to lie chiefly within the 

 areas of alkali soil, but they may extend into adjacent areas of good soil. 



