336 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



parts of the plant it passes off in the form of new com- 

 pounds, in the insensible form of perspiration, or in 

 perfumed exhalations of the plant. 



NITRIC ACID. 



This acid consists of nitrogen combined with oxy- 

 gen, and never occurs in nature in a free state, but is 

 found in many semi-tropical regions in combination 

 with potash, soda and lime, in what are known as "ni- . 

 trates." They are all, like the salts of ammonia, very 

 soluble in water, those of soda, lime and magnesia at- 

 tracting moisture from the air, and in a damp atmos- 

 phere gradually assume a liquid form. Saltpeter is a 

 compound of nitric acid with potash (nitrate of potash), 

 and it may sometimes be used as an influential agent 

 in promoting vegetation. Like the acid itself, these 

 nitrates, when present in large quantities, are destruc- 

 tive of vegetation, and are frequently the cause, in arid 

 and semi-arid regions, of utter barrenness, the nitrous 

 incrustations accumulating upon the surface of the soil. 

 In small quantities, however, they exercise an important 

 and salutary influence on the rapidity of growth. 



An 

 Apology. 



Owing to lack of space in preparing for 

 the all important session of the Eleventh 

 National Irrigation Congress, we have 

 been compelled to omit from the August 

 and September numbers of THE IRRIGATION AGE the 

 second chapter of Hon. Thomas F. Weedin's revelations 

 entitled, "The San Carlos vs. The Tonto Reservoir." 

 The matter is too important to be lost to the public, 

 and it will appear in the October number without fail. 



HON. JOSEhH M. CAKEV, CHEYENNE, WYOMING. 



cither in the air, in the soil, or in the interior of 

 plants, a peculiarity which is possessed by water, as 

 lias been said. In the interior of the plant ammonia 

 separates into its constituent elements as freely as 

 water. The hydrogen it contains in so largo a quan- 



SAN SABA VALLEY, TEXAS. 



Arrangements have been completed for the con- 

 struction of the contemplated big irrigation works on 

 the San Saba river. The plant will include two large 

 storage reservoirs and 176 miles of canals and laterals. 

 This will water about 40,000 acres in the valley. By 

 and by "San Saba" will be the legend on numerous boxes 

 and crates in our great markets of the North. 



UTAH DELEGATION. 10th NATIONAL IRRIGATION CONGRESS, 

 COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. 



tity is always ready to separate itself from the nitrogen, 

 and so, in concert with the other organic elements in- 

 troduced into the plant through the roots or the leaves, 

 it aids in producing the different solid bodies of which 

 the several parts of the plant are made up. The nitro- 

 gen also becomes fixed, that is "permanent" in the col- 

 ored petals of the flowers, in the seeds, and in other 



THE IRRIGATION AGE has the utmost confidence in 

 the delegates to this great and important Congress; 

 it does not believe that any one man, or set of men, 

 can or will manage it for personal interests, and that 

 if they, or any of them dare to attempt it, they will 

 quickly disappear and be heard of no more. 



