918 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



interest as showing the practical working of the elaborate English adminis- 

 trative system on the Nile. 



They consist largely of detailed statements of expenditures, with descriptions 

 of new work started and repairs made, and of gage-height records, showing 

 the use made of flood and reservoir water and its distribution among the basins 

 and canals. The duty of water is discussed, the actual duty observed running 

 from 80 to 105 acres per cubic foot per second for general crops, twice as much 

 water being used on rice. The season is not given in this connection, but 

 appears to be 90 to 100 days. A report on drainage works and roads is 

 included. 



Typical examples of sewage irrigation, P. Ehrexberg (F Hilling's Lantlw. 

 Ztg., ~>'i (1905), No. 24, pp. 831-841). — After showing the value of sewage as a 

 fertilizer, the author points out that its continuous discharge demands constant 

 care day and night through the year, to distribute the sewage over the land, 

 and that in many cases it must be applied regardless of injury to the crop, 

 since its disposal is the paramount object. 



There are, however, certain plants which resist overirrigation and which are 

 hence particularly useful here. Among field crops hemp and asparagus would 

 be ideal plants did they not entail much hand labor and a large investment. 

 Beets require disking and are uncertain in starting. Even corn fodder does not 

 meet the conditions wholly and is inferior to grass (Rieselgrass) which is the 

 best crop of all. 



Next in importance is truck raising. The very quick-growing vegetables 

 are grown on freshly-irrigated land, and harvested without further application 

 of sewage. Other vegetables are hilled up to prevent actual contact with the 

 sewage. The distance from market must be short enough so that truck may be 

 gathered and sold the same day. Nightshade and other stubborn weeds 

 flourish in autumn when the gardener is busiest, and cause much trouble, 

 since mowers can not be used on account of the dikes and checks. Near Berlin 

 are over 500 lessees of sewage-irrigated lands which aggregate nearly 4,500 

 acres. The annual rental in 1904 was $22 per acre. 



In irrigating grass land, sewage may be applied summer and winter in great 

 excess without injury, and the yield is phenomenal. In 1904, 22.2 tons of 

 fresh-cut grass per acre was reported, and in 1889, 26.2 tons. Mowing machines 

 have not come into use, the most primitive methods prevailing. Without road- 

 ways through the fields the hay must be carried out on litters. 



The author includes a number of tables showing the value of sewage, rental 

 of land, yield of crops, seed required, etc., and a discussion of fresh-cut grass 

 as a milk producer. 



Reservoirs, M. Rixgelmanx (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 10 (1905), No. 51, pp. 

 187-790, figs. 6). — An elementary discussion of the design of earth dams. 



Weir experiments, coefficients, and formulas, R. E. Hortox (17. S. Geol. 

 Surrey, ^Yater-Supplg and Irrig. Paper No. 150, pp. 188, pis. 38, figs. 16).— This 

 paper is a compilation of the work of Francis, Fteley and Stearns, Bazin, 

 Hamilton Smith, Thomson, Cippoletti, and others on thin-edged weirs, and the 

 experiments of Bazin, the U. S. Board of Engineers on deep waterways, the 

 U. S. Geological Survey at the Cornell University hydraulic laboratory, and 

 others on weirs of irregular cross section. The coefficients of Bazin are recom- 

 puted so as to cover more general cases. Submerged weirs and weir discharge 

 under varying heads are discussed at length. 



The good roads problem in Iowa (Ioica Engin. Sta. Bui., 2 (1905). No. 6, 

 j)p. 2). pis. 15, dgms. 2). — The work of the Iowa Highway Commission since its 

 creation in 1904 is described, with data showing the general road situation and 

 the funds available for improvements. Drainage and the use of the King road 



