AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 895 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



The use of water in irrigation ( U. S. Dept. Agr. , Office of Experi- 

 m<nt Stations Bid. 86, j)p. 253, ^^/.y. 50, figs. 18). — This is a report of 

 investigations made in 1S99 under the supervision of E. Mead, expert 

 in charge of irrigation investigations of this Department, and C. T. 

 Johnston, assistant, in accordance with the act of Congress authorizing 

 irrigation investigations b}^ the Department., The report contains 

 papers discussing the results of the year's investigations by E. Mead; 

 tables for use in measuring water, and diagrams showing use in differ- 

 ent localities, bv C. T. Johnston; and reports and discussions of irri- 

 gation investigations in different localities by special agents W. M. 

 Reed, New Mexico; W. H. Code, Arizona; W. Irving, California; 

 O. V. P. Stout, Nebraska; T. Berr}^, Colorado; C. T. Johnston, AVj^o- 

 ming; S. Fortier, Montana; K. C. Gemmell and G. L. Swendsen, Utah; 

 and D. W. Ross, Idaho, The bulletin explains the methods in use in 

 the arid States in the distribution and use of water in irrigation and 

 gives a large number of measurements made to determine the duty of 

 water and the losses by seepage and evaporation from canals, and dis- 

 cusses the methods by which the water supply may be more effectively 

 and economically utilized in the production of crops. The results show 

 a ver}' variable, but wasteful, use of water in irrigation under present 

 methods and enormous losses from canals and reservoirs b}" seepage 

 and evaporation. Three tables given in the bulletin afford a very 

 striking illustration of the extent of these losses. These tables show 

 the amovmt of water (1) flowing into large canals at their headgates, 

 (2) taken out by small canals and laterals, and (3) actually reaching the 

 ffelds. The difference in results of the 3 measurements shows the 

 approximate loss of water in transit. The following table gives the 

 averages of the 3 classes of measurements: 



Measurements at different places in an irrif/ation, si/sfem, shoving losses in transit. 



Depth. 



Measured at the head of large canals feet . . 5. 63 



Measured at the heads of small canals and laterals do 2. 40 



Measured at the margins of fields where used do 1. 29 



"A comparison of the duties secured under many of the canals where measure- 

 ments were made last year leads to the belief that it will be possil)le through improved 

 methods to double the average duty now obtained, scPthat the quantity now required 

 for one acre will serve to irrigate two. If this can be accomplished it will relieve the 

 scarcity under many canals, put an end to many controversies growing out of such 

 scarcity, lessen the expense per acre for water, and immensely increase the produc- 

 tive and taxable resources of the arid States." 



Irrigation in New Jersey, E. B. Voorhees (Z7. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Office of Kipcruiunt Stations Bid. 87,2>P- Jf0,fg8. 5). — This bulletin 

 discusses the need of irrigation in New Jersey and other States with 

 similar rainfall conditions; reports the results of experiments at the 



