180 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



il. tetragenus. The animal died on the sixteenth day without having shown 

 the least elevation of temperature. 



The cultivation of the virus of fowl plagnie, K. Landsteineb and M. Bee- 

 LiNEE {Cenibl. Bakt. [etc.], 1. Ait., Orig., 61 {1912), No. 3, pp. 165-168; abs. in 

 Jour. Compar. Path, and Ther., 26 (1913), No. 1, pp. 60, 61). — The results ob- 

 tained in these experiments confirm the finding of Marchoux (E. S. R., 20, p. 

 1191) that multiplication actually occurs in the cultures. It remains to be 

 determined through how many generations the virus can be cultivated. 



A study of polyneuritis gallinamm — a fifth contribution to the etiology 

 of beri-beri, E. B. Veddeb and E. Claek {Philipqiine Jour. 8cL, Sect. B, 7 

 (1912), No. 5, pp. 1/23-461, pis. 11). — A number of conclusions concerning the 

 relation between diet and beri-beri are drawn from the results of this study of 

 polyneuritis in fowls, caused by a diet of polished rice, which demonstrated the 

 similarity of the two diseases. 



Both are the result of an exclusive diet which is deficient in some substance 

 that is essential for the normal metabolism of nervous tissue. It was observed 

 that the addition of meat, legumes, or rice polishings to a deficient diet, and a 

 diet of potatoes prevented polyneuritis in the fowls. 



RUKAL ENGINEERING. 



Duty of water investigation (Bien. Rpt. State Engin. Idaho, 9 (1911-12), 

 pp. 90, figs. If). — From the results of 3 years' investigations of the duty of water 

 for irrigation in Idaho, as conducted by D. H. Bark under a cooperative agree- 

 ment between the State of Idaho and this Office, the following conclusions are 

 drawn : 



" The duty of water depends upon a variety of factors, which are in the order 

 of their importance (a) character of soil and subsoil; (b) climatic conditions; 

 (c) the fertility of the soil; (d) diversification of the farm crops; (e) use of 

 rotation; (f) preparation of the land; (g) kind of crop; and others of lesser 

 importance. 



" The duty for projects planted' to diversified crops on the average clay loam 

 soils of south Idaho should be sufficient, so that 2 acre-feet per acre may be 

 retained on the land. Very impervious soils or shallow soils require slightly 

 more water than deep medium soils. A tight impervious subsoil that roots can 

 penetrate increases the duty. More water is required where porous subsoils 

 exist. Gravelly soil may require 2 or more times as much water as the medium 

 soil, the amount depending upon the porosity of the soil, the distance water is 

 flooded, and the preparation of the land for irrigation. As much as 80 per 

 cent of the water applied to gravelly soil is sometimes lost to the use of the 

 crops from deep percolation. Gravelly soils should be irrigated by flooding 

 large heads of water short distances. 



"Cultivated crops, all other things being equal, require less water than un- 

 cultivated crops. Winter grains require less water than spring grains. The 

 time of application has a decided effect upon the yield of grain. Alfalfa, clover, 

 and pasture require almost exactly twice as much water on the same soil as the 

 grains. An average of approximately 20 per cent of the amount applied is 

 wasted from grain and alfalfa on the clay loam soils. Diversification of crops 

 greatly increases the duty. 



" Very little water is required by a project either earlier than May or later 

 than August. The need for water is not constant during the season for a 

 project with diversified crops; about 1 per cent of the season's supply is re- 

 quired during April, 16 per cent during May, 32 per cent each month during 

 June and July, 16 per cent during August, and 2.5 per cent during the first 

 half of September, after which there is very little need for water. . . . 



