1902. 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



97 



tions Needed in the State. ' ' Professor 

 Lane, State Geologist, discussed the 

 possible cooperation of his department 

 with the forest commission. The work 

 of the forest commission is promising. 

 A wide public interest has been awak- 

 ened by the commissioners in favor of 

 state forest work, and it is expected 

 that suitable appropriations and legisla- 

 tion will give the commission increased 

 opportunities for further practical work. 



J- 



Winter Experiments have been 



Iffigfation made in southern Ari- 



of Orchards* zona to ascertain whether 

 water can be advantage- 

 ously applied during the winter season, 

 when an ample supply can be had, but 

 withheld during the summer, when there 

 is a deficiency. In 1888 a portion of an 

 orchard was not watered from Septem- 

 ber until Januar}', 1889, when winter 

 irrigation was begun and continued 

 until the end of March. In all eight 

 irrigations were made, the water being 

 applied through furrows. The ground 

 was cultivated after the last irrigation 

 to check evaporation . Water was again 

 applied in June, but not again during 

 the season. The trees grew thriftily 

 and maintained a vigorous appearance 

 all summer. During the following win- 

 ter about 3 feet of water in depth was 

 applied and the ground again plowed 

 each way and harrowed thoroughly. 

 After each summer shower the soil was 

 again cultivated to maintain a mulch of 

 dust 6 or 8 inches deep. No irrigation 

 water was applied for 8 months, during 

 which period the rainfall was only 2.5 

 inches. The trees remained in excel- 

 lent condition, and during the hot, dr}' 

 period a good crop of excellent apricots 

 was obtained. An examination of the 

 roots of the trees showed that they had 

 penetrated in large numbers to a depth 

 of from I > to 16 feet, some going down 

 to 20 feet. The conclusion has been 

 reached that by appljnng about 3 feet 

 of water during the winter and with 

 frequent cultivation a deciduous orchard 

 can be maintained in good condition 

 throughout the year, even in the hot, dry 

 climate of Arizona, particularly where 

 the soil is deep and retentive of moisture. 



Irrig;ation in Irrigation was reported 

 New Jersey. on 8 farms in 1899. Of 

 the 73 acres irrigated, 

 69 acres were devoted to crops, as fol- 

 lows: Hay, 26 acres; vegetables, 20 

 acres; corn, 13 acres; celery, 6 acres; 

 seeds, 4 acres. The total value of the 

 crops produced was $8,720, an average 

 of $126 per acre. 



The average value per acre of irri- 

 gated land was $155. The total capital 

 invested in irrigation plants was $2,831, 

 and the average cost of irrigating wa.s 

 $36 per acre. 



J- 



Forestry in Improvement of forest 



Maryland. conditions is a subject 



being considered by the 

 present session of the Maryland legisla- 

 ture. 



]Mr. Harry, of Frederick County, has 

 introduced in the house a bill to create 

 a state board of forestry, to consist of 

 three members, to be appointed bienni-. 

 ally by the governor, by and with the 

 advice and consent of the senate. 



The commissioners are to be male 

 citizens not under 30 years of age nor 

 over the age of 60 years, one of whom 

 at least shall possess a scientific knowl- 

 edge of forestry and at least two of whom 

 shall each own 100 acres of farm land 

 within the state. One of the commis- 

 sioners shall always be a resident of 

 the Eastern Shore and one of the sixth 

 congressional district. 



The commissioners are to have their 

 office at Annapolis and are to receive a 

 yearly salary of $600 each. They are to 

 employ a secretary at a salary to be 

 fixed. It is to be the duty of the board 

 to acquire, in the name of the state, such 

 woodland along the headwaters of the 

 rivers of this state as ma>- be offered at 

 a price not exceeding $8 an acre, the 

 amount purchased in any one year not 

 to exceed the money at the disposal of 

 the board. Provision is also made for 

 the purchase of deforested land in the 

 judgment of the board. 



Arrangements are made for paying a 

 bounty of 10 cents each for Locu.st, Black 

 Walnut, Black Oak. Red Oak, or Hick- 

 ory trees planted l)y land-owners under 

 certain regulations, and 5 cents for each 



