1 HE IRRIGA TION A GE. 88 



Interest in the use of irrigation to supplement rainfall in the 

 humid regions of the United States is constantly growing. In a 

 number of sections this has been greatly stimulated daring the past 

 season by long-continued drought. Interesting and valuable investi- 

 gations regarding the use of water for irrigation in New Jersey have 

 been made by Professor Voorhees, director of the New Jersey agri- 

 cultural experiment stations. The results of these investigations 

 have recently been published, and they indicate that the practice of 

 irrigation has been quite profitable in that state as far as it has 

 been tried. 



Similar investigations are being undertaken in Missouri and 

 Wisconsin in co-operation with the experiment stations in those 

 States. A preliminary survey was also made of the conditions of 

 irrigation practice in the rice fields and sugar plantations of the 

 Southern States. This indicated that there is great opportunity for 

 improvement in the methods and use of water in that region, and it is 

 hoped that it may be possible to undertake a study of some of these 

 problems in the near future. 



A report on the irrigation system of Hawaii is now in press. 

 A popular bulletin on the practice of irrigation in connection with 

 horticulture has been issued and widely distributed. 



Although the irrigation investigations now in charge of this 

 Department have been in progress too short a time to permit the 

 publication of extended reports, it is believed that they have already 

 had important results. As the basis for these investigations, an 

 effort has been made to ascertain the actual needs of the people of 

 the irrigated region as regards the investigation of irrigations 

 problems. This has led to widespread discussion of this subject in 

 agricultural and other associations, as well as in the public press. 

 Through the publications of this Department already issued and the 

 addresses of our agents in public meetings in different parts of the^ 

 irrigated region, the existing conditions have been described as 

 accurately as a preliminary survey would permit. The lines along 

 which investigations must proceed have also definitely been pointed 

 out: In this way the experience already obtained by the experiment 

 stations, State engineers, and officers and experts in irrigation 

 matters has been brought to bear on the public mind more effectively 

 than heretofore. The result has been a great quickening of interest 

 in this matter throughout the West, cogether with a large and more 

 definite realization of the importance of the development of our 

 irrigation system and the intricate nature of the problems involved. 

 A great desire has been awakened to have an accurate and complete 

 showing of facts, on which permanent improvement alone can be 

 based. This has led to hearty co-operation of the people and local 



