4 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



During the past year or two studies of drainage projects of various 

 kinds on a quite extensive scale have been made under the direction of 

 the Irrigation Investigations of this Office, and the scope of this work 

 is now being enlarged. These studies and the data collected have 

 thrown considerable light upon the cost of reclamation by drainage 

 under various conditions, the causes of failures, and the best methods 

 of procedure; and they have also attracted attention to the feasibility 

 and advantages of such reclamation. They have made it quite appar- 

 ent that the problems of drainage where large areas are involved are far 

 from being thoroughly worked out, and that this held presents as impor- 

 tant and promising a one for investigation as an}^ branch of engineering. 

 In man} T States it lies at the very foundation of future agricultural 

 development, and in other sections it is already a very present need, 

 upon which depends the continued maintenance of lands iioav under 

 cultivation. 



While these problems of land reclamation b}^ drainage, diking, etc., 

 are largely in the domain of engineering, the}' are agricultural in their 

 relationships and applications. The planning and inauguration of 

 such work calls for some agricultural knowledge. The man with an 

 agricultural outlook, who knows in a general way the methods and 

 needs of different kinds of farming, has a distinct advantage over the 

 man trained merety as an engineer; and, moreover, such a man can see 

 the problems of a section, the possibility of remedying them, and the 

 practicability of such an undertaking. In development work of this 

 sort, the ability to see the problems and the possibilities of a section 

 are of prime importance to both the projector and the investigator. 



What is needed, therefore, is a class of men who combine engineer- 

 ing training with a thorough knowledge of agricultural conditions and 

 an understanding of the practical requirements of farm life. Such 

 men are to be found in Europe, where agricultural engineers are a rec- 

 ognized branch of the profession. The establishment of this work in 

 the Department of Agriculture has brought together a number of this 

 class of engineers. In this way the solution of these special problems 

 is having the advantage of their combined special knowledge. The 

 reception this work has met with leaves no question as to the need for 

 it, and the results alread3 T achieved show its practical value. Demands 

 for expert advice regarding drainage plans and for expert study of 

 unsolved problems are being received from all sections of the United 

 States, and are far in excess of the ability of the Office at present to 

 meet. 



Engineering, like all professions, is being specialized. In this spe- 

 cialization there would seem clearly to be a field in this country for the 

 agricultural engineer. Such a man would combine with his technical 

 engineering knowledge a familiarity with agricultural methods, condi- 



