1897.] 



ESSAYS. 



11 



to Divine Providence;" to which the farmer replied: "Stranger, we 

 don't care nothin' for Divine Providence here ; we're under the Com- 

 pany's Ditch." 



The following is the table referred to showing percentage of water 

 in plants, and some other things. 



Fluids. 

 Lager beer, 99.50. 

 California wine, 75. 

 Auimals, including man, 71 per cent. 

 Total abstinence people a little more. 



Milk — not determined —depending upon various considerations, 

 water.) 



FOREIGN IRRIGATION. INDIA. 



(City 



Before inquiring what has been done in our own country, it may be 

 well to recur to the history of irrigation in other lands. 



Irrigation has been practised in India for thousands of years ; and 

 it is not too much to say, that without its use, India would long since 

 have become unhabitable and unhabited. 



Several years ago Professor Herbert M. Wilson visited India, with 

 a view to compare the systems of irrigation practised there with 

 those in use in this country, and adopt any improved methods he 

 could And. His i-eport, covering 200 pages of the " Report of the 

 Geological Survey" of Major Powell, for 1891, shows that the 

 Government of India has been alive to the importance of the work 



