EURAL ENGINEERING. 787 



gjitioD method during its tiist season, after which flooding between borders is 

 more satisfactory in most cases. In the production of alfalfa hay seven or eight 

 irrigations should be given in a three crop season, totaling about 2$ acre-feet 

 Ijer acre. The moisture supplied by winter and sijring precipitation is usually 

 sufficient to carry winter wheat to the booting stage, after which one or two 

 irrigations totaling less than one acre-foot per acre should be given. Flooding 

 between borders is a desirable method of application. 



" In the irrigation of si»ring wheat, oats, and barley care should be taken to 

 have a comparatively high soil moisture content at the jointing, booting, and soft 

 dough stages. The water can be applied to advantage by flooding between 

 borders," using in all li to If acre-feet per acre in about 4 applications. The 

 irrigation of potatoes should couynence about the time the tubers begin to form. 

 During the next 5 or 6 weeks about 4 irrigations should be given, applying in 

 all about 12 acre-feet per acre, the early irrigations being followed by culti- 

 vation. 



"The improvement of sagebrush lands by the addition of barnyard manure 

 and by the growing of leguminous crops will result in a saving of water. . . . 

 The growing of diversified crops is one of the most efficient means by which the 

 duty of water can be increased." 



Irrigation in South Africa, A. C. Cauuauns (Afjr. Jovr. Union So. Africa, 

 C (191S), No. 4, PP- G3S-6Jf4). — Practical irrigating methods are described and 

 suggestions given for the use of the beginner in laying out a field for irrigation. 



Report and plajis for reclamation of lands subject to overflow in the 

 Embarrass River Valley, J. A. Harm.\.n {III. Geol. Survey Bui. 25 {1913), pp. 

 61, plfi. V). — The plans included in this report, propose (1) straightening the 

 crooked channel; (2) building adequate levees to allow floodwater movement 

 without its covering farm land; (3) excavating ditches for the diversion of 

 hillside water; and (4) installing pumping stations to care for the drainage of 

 each unit area during times of flood. The estimated average cost of the work 

 is $30 per acre, the benefit derived from such improvements being considered to 

 exceed the cost. 



Testing drain tile and sewer pipe, M. Sciiuylek {Engin. Rec, 6H {1913), 

 No. 25, pp. 695-697, figs. 3). — An analysis of theoretical considerations relative 

 to the testing of drain tile led to the following conclusions : 



All failures of tile are the results of overstressing in tension some generally 

 elemental section. When tile vary from piece to piece as much as 100 per cent 

 a demand for a sensitivity of 10 per cent in the load indicating details would 

 seem sufficient. This could be obtained readily and accurately by a spring 

 dynamometer and Ames dial gage. Since only the more perfect of the cement 

 tiles allow a continuous contact botw^een a rigid platen and the tile, either a 

 plaster bearing or some flexible platen such as sand or water should be ustxl. 

 Tile should be tested individually to determine their ability to sustain the load- 

 ing superimposed by particular ditch conditions. This procedure would neces- 

 sitate a portable machine and considerable labor, but would amply repay this 

 effort under extreme conditions. 



Drilling as a test for concrete, C. S. Duke {Engin. Rec, 68 {1913), No. 21/, 

 pp. 670, 671, figs. 3). — Data and results are given of experiments made to deter- 

 mine the relation between compression strength and si^ed of boring in concrete. 

 It is stated that *' all things being equal the rate of boring concrete would in a 

 general way vary inversely as the compressive strength," but it is conclude<l 

 that the drilling furnished a very unreliable criterion as to the character of the 

 concrete on account of the variation in the age of the concrete, the personal 

 44429°— No. 8—14 7 



