RURAL ENGINEERING. 9] 



Geology and water resources of a portion of east-central Washington. 1 

 C. Calkins (('. S. <;,,,/. Survey, Water-Supply and Trrig. Paper No. 118, pp. 9 

 figs. i't). — This paper reports studies of tin- topography, climate, vegetation, i 

 cultural conditions, geology, and hydrology of an an -a on the arid ( lolumbia Plain-. 

 covering parts of Douglas, Lincoln, Adams, Franklin, Yakima, and Kittitas counties, 

 a large portion of which is said to be almosl without surface streams available for the 

 uses of mankind. 



"Surface wells capable of supplying perennially even the modesl requirements of 

 domestic use can be Bunk only in places where conditions are locallj favorable. 

 Springs once formed the only source of water for a large area, bu1 they are bo widely 

 scattered and often so <litlicult of access that great labor is sometimes involved in 

 hauling :i supply from them. Deep wells, now fairly numerous and rapidly increas- 

 ing in number, are coming to he considered the mosl satisfactory sources of water. 

 To determine to what extent the supply from these wells may be increased, and to 

 lind whether there is hope of obtaining artesian Hows in any portion of the region, 

 were the prime objects of the writer's expedition." 



It is stated that abundant water of good quality may he found in the region at 

 depths varying from 4<> to (>7(> feet. Apparently the water is as a rule under pressure 

 and therefore in a broad sense artesian. The success of deep borings for artesian 

 water is questioned. 



A general working plan for the irrigation farm of Berlin, A. Backs \\ - 

 {Allgemeiner Wirtschaftsplan fin- die Rieselguter der Stadi Berlin. Berlin: W. <v- S. 

 Loewenthal, 1905, />/>.80). — This report discusses the scope and purpose of the Berlin 

 sewage irrigation farm, its organization, operations, equipment, results, etc. 



Agricultural experiments on the irrigation farm of Berlin during 1904, 

 A. Backhaus {LandvnrtschafdicTii Versuche auf den Rieselgutem </> r Stadt Berlin n, 

 Jahre /.'"//'. Berlin: Paul Parey, 19o~>, />]>. 122, figs. 11). — Plat experiments with a 

 great variety of garden and field crops and forage plants are reported. Pol experi- 

 ments with sewage sludge and sludge ash and experiments in composting sludge are 

 also reported. 



The experiments include tests of varieties, amounts and methods of application of 

 the sewage, fertilizers, methods of soil preparation and culture, tests of special forms 

 of cultural implements (plows, mowing machine-, etc.). methods of curing crops, 

 control of weeds and plant diseases, etc.. :is well as studies of soils and drainage 

 waters. 



The experiments were seriously interfered with by drought, hut the results 

 obtained indicate a number of ways in which improvements may he made, among 

 which are (1) occasional liming to improve the physical condition of the soil; 2 

 so arranging the irrigation as to protect against drought; (3) shallow culture in 

 Bpring and deep culture in summer and fall; (4) avoiding excessive accumulations 

 of sludge on the soil: and (5) raising fish in the drainage water. 



Measuring the flow in underground streams ( Trrig. Age, 90 i t905 I, No. 8, p. 

 988, figs. .A.— A brief description of Slichter's method. 



River surveys and profiles made during 1903, W. (II \i i and .1. ( . Ih", i 

 (U. S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply and Irrig. Paper No. 115, pp. 115, ph. 4, figs. i*'). — 

 This paper contains the results of cooperative river surveys carried on during 1903 

 between the topographic and hydrographic branches of the Geological Survey. It 

 presents data of special interest to engineers and others interested in power 



development. 



Relation of the law to underground waters, D. W. Johnson (U. v 

 Survey, Water-Supply and Trrig. Paper No. 122, pp. 55). — In this paper an attempt is 

 made to outline the main features of the laws respecting underground water-, with 

 the object of giving to the owner of such water- some idea of his rights and obliga- 

 tions concerning them. 



