414 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD- 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



Egyptian irrigation, C. T. Johnston ( T. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Sta- 

 tions Jill I. J JO, pp. 100, ph. J-i-, figs. 9). — This bulletin gives the results of observations 

 matk' during the winter of 1901-2 of the irrigation works, practices, and administra- 

 tive system of Egypt, discussed with reference to their ajiplicability to American 

 conditions. 



An irrigation project, J. Crevat {Jour. Agr. I'rat., n. ser., 5 {1903), Nos. 16, pp. 

 513-.'>L',; 17, pp. 532-53.5; 18, pp. .566-568; 20, pp. 63.5-638, figs. 5; 6 {1903), Nos. 32, 

 pp. is.5-187,fig. 1; 34, pp. 249-254, fig. 1)- — This article discusses the general features 

 of a i)lan for irrigating the plain of Loyettes from the River Ain, with formulas and 

 tables relating to velocity of flow in canals, capacity of canals, etc. 



Irrigation works {Nature [Loudou], 68 {1903) , No. 1765, pp. 404-406). — Notes on 

 recent reports on irrigation in India, South Africa, and elsewhere. 



Irrigation on the Murray: Utilization of the swamp lands, A. J. Perkins 

 {Jour. Agr. and Ind. South Australia, 6 {1903), Nos. 8, jjp. 489-494, figs. 5; 9, p>p. 

 532-536; 10, pp. 592-595; 11, pp. 659-664). — The possibility and means of reclaiming 

 the swamp lands along the Murray and the phj'sical and chemical properties and 

 fertilizer requirements of the reclaimed soils are discussed, special attention being 

 given to the soluble salts present. 



The relation of rainfall to run-oflf, G. AV. Rafter ( Water Supply and Irrig. 

 I'apers, U. S. Geol. Surveg, No. 80, pp. 104, fig>^. 23) . — This bulletin discusses the 

 cause, measurement, variation, and distribution of rainfall; the measurement of 

 run'off and the calculation of the results; evaporation as affecting run-off; the move- 

 ment of ground water, and the relation of geological structure and forest growth to 

 run-off. 



The author claims that the cause of rainfall, Ijeyond the cooling of the air below 

 the dew point, is not well understood, and that it is micertain whether rainfall is to 

 any extent increasing. He holds that there is no general expression giving accurately 

 the relation of rainfall to run-(jff, every stream Ijeing in effect a law unto itself. For 

 convenience of discussion the rainfall and run-off records given in the bulletin are 

 divided into storage, growing, and replenishing periods, and it is shown that a large 

 percentage of the total water supply runs off during the storage period. It is 

 claimed, however, that the run-off of streams has been generally overestimated. 

 Evaporation is shown to be a very uniform element, the largest evaporation occurring 

 in deforested catchment areas. A study of ground water is shown to be of impor- 

 tance in explaining the peculiarities of stream flow. Forests exert an important 

 influence in increasing ground water flow, so that it may be said that the removal of 

 forests notably decreases the miniiiiuni flow of the stieam. From the evidence 

 adduced it is uncertain whether forests in any way influence the quantity of rainfall. 



California hydrography, J. B. Lippincott( Water Sujjply and Irrig. Papers, U. S. 

 Geol. Surrey, No. 81, jip. 4S8, figs. 4, map 1). — This is "a summary of as much of the 

 data concerning the water supply of California as is available from printed records 

 and from observations of other engineers and investigations made by this Sur- 

 vey. . . . The discharge measurements include both low-water and flood records 

 and are accompanied by useful precipitation data." Summaries of observations on 

 eva|)oration at a number of places in Nevada and California are included in the 

 bulletin. 



Water conservation, H. G. McKinney {Agr. Jour, and Min. Rec. \_Natal'\, 6 {1903) , 

 No. 12, jjp. 429, 430). — This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the 

 construction of dams on an extended scale for the conservation of water in Natal. 



Riparian rights and the necessity to declare and define the law with 

 respect to natural water, W. Deacon {Queensland Agr. Jour., 13 {1903), No. 2, 

 pp. 130-133). — A brief discussion of this question as applied to Queensland. 



