RURAL ENGINEERING. 287 



the reproductive processes wliicli occur iu the geuus. the nomenclature and the 

 biology of these forms. Detailed descriptions are presented of 38 species of 

 parasitic anieba^ wliich liave been found iu animals and man. A bibliography 

 relating to the subject is also given. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Progress report on irrigation experiments in Willamette Valley, Oregon, 

 A. P. Stover (U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Expt. Stas. Circ. 78, pp. 25, figs. 7).— This 

 circular describes experiments in irrigation in the Willamette A^alley and gives 

 tentative results of the first season's work. While this valley has a rainfall of 

 approximately 44 in. per annum, that which occurs during the summer months 

 is very small, the average for the three months' period from the middle of June 

 to the middle of September being only about 2i in. This valley has been imder 

 cultivation for more than half a century and has been a great wheat-growing 

 region, this crop maturing before the summer drought, but the land has ceased 

 to produce profitable crops of wheat and diversification has become necessary. 

 In order that the crops may be grown throughout the dry summer irrigation is 

 required and the experiments undertaken are for the purpose of determining 

 methods, cost, and returns. The returns reported from the single season indi- 

 cate large profits from the use of water during the summer months. 



The use of small water supplies for irrigation, S. Fortier ( V. 8. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook 1907, pp. .'/09-42.'/, figs. 6). — "From an agricultural .standpoint the 

 greatest need of the arid and semiarid regions is a larger water supply. Out 

 of a total of about 900,000,000 acres less than 1| per cent is artificially watered. 

 When all of the available water supplies are utilized it is doubtful if more than 

 7 or 8 per cent of the total area can be irrigated." The impoi'tance of utilizing 

 every available source of water for irrigation is, therefore, evident. This 

 article calls attention to the possibilities of developing small water supplies and 

 shows the methods of using them to the best advantage. It describes typical 

 plants for storing water from springs, and for pumping water from wells by 

 windmills, engines, and electric motors. Methods of construction and cost of 

 plants, methods of using water and returns from the lauds are given. 



Irrigation with household waste water, H. Selkirk (Agr. Gas. N. 8. Wales, 

 19 (1908), Xo. 3, pp. 223, 22-'f, fig. 1). — A simple system of pipes and drains for 

 utilizing the house sewage in irrigating vegetables and fruit trees and the bene- 

 fits derived from such irrigation are briefly described. 



Drainage in New York, E. O. Fippin (Neiv York Cornell 8ta. Bui. 25-'i, pp. 

 391--'t28, figs. 29). — The large area in New York requiring drainage includes the 

 marsh or swamp land and the heavy clay soils. The marshes, scattered through- 

 out the State in irregular areas but extensive in the aggregate, are practically 

 useless for agricultural purposes without drainage. The heavy clay soils ai-e in 

 cultivation but their crop value has been greatly reduced by the loss of vegetable 

 matter in the soil, followed by pronounced physical changes whereby the soil has 

 become harder and more compact, the rainfall moving over the land rather than 

 through it, and the subsequent rapid drying causing it to become dense and im- 

 pervious. These physical changes have given rise to extremes of wetness and 

 drought. Such soil can be reclaimed only by drainage and better methods of 

 cultivation, and thorough tile drainage is recommended as the best meaus of 

 reclamation. 



A brief account is given of the first tile drains used in America, these being 

 laid near Geneva by John Johnston in 1837. The effects of tile drainage and the 

 benefits that accrue to the soil are set forth. 



