176 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



April 



THE MAHOGANY AS A SHADE TREE. 



other is our Szviete?iia mahogajii, which 

 is probably the best, although there is 

 great diversity in qualit}' and value. 



This tree is native to the Keys of 

 Florida. It may be seen in perfection 

 on the south coast of the Isle of Pines. 

 lyUmbermen will soon begin to w^ork on 

 it, but the territory is of such a rough 

 character that I doubt if they can ex- 



terminate it, or make the fortune out of 

 it which everybody associates with this 

 ro3'al tree. Now and then a tree may 

 still be seen on the Keys of P'lorida, 

 growing with mastic and crabwood, in 

 the strips left by the pine-apple growers 

 to protect their plantations from the 

 storms which sometimes occur in that 

 district. 



PUMPING WATER FOR IRRIGATION. 



FOURTH PAPER. 



MOST of the water pumped for pur- 

 poses of irrigation is raised by 

 windmills operating vertical plunger 

 pumps. There are many localities, how- 

 ever, especiall}' in sheltered valleys, 

 where the wind cannot be depended 

 upon during the summer season, and it 

 is neccessary to provide some form of 

 power which can be operated at au}' time. 

 Various kinds of engines are used for 

 this purpose, the variety being dependent 

 largely upon the character of fuel avail- 

 able and its cost. Where wood or coal 

 can be procured at reasonable rates, 



steam-engines are utilized, and in other 

 localities, where these fuels are expen- 

 sive, gasoline or other products from 

 crude petroleum or this oil itself is used. 

 Throughout the principal farming re- 

 gions there are usually to be found 

 threshing or traction engines, and most 

 farmers are familiar with their use. 

 During a time of drouth, when a ques- 

 tion of pumping water for irrigation 

 comes up, the first thovight of the 

 fanner as regards obtaining power for 

 pumping is that of utiHzing one of these 

 engines. Many ingenious devices have 



