416 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



machinery during the war resulted in a material lessening of in- 

 terest in pumping, but conditions of severe drought and a lifting of 

 Avar restrictions immediately restored pumping to a position of 

 prime importance in the irrigation field. 



DRAINAGE INVESTIGATIONS. 



Until the close of the calendar year war conditions continued 

 largely to control the operations of the division. In addition to the 

 fact that approximately 50 per cent of the force was in the military 

 service, the immediate requirements of the situation diverted the 

 attention of agricultural landowners temporarily from contem- 

 plated drainage work. Early in 1919, when the improvement of 

 their land once more claimed their attention, the landowners were 

 at once confronted by the prevailing high costs of labor and ma- 

 terials. Nevertheless a decided tendency has been shown to pro- 

 ceed with important drainage projects in spite of high costs. This 

 tendency has been so marked that by the close of the fiscal year 

 the activities of the drainage division were limited only by the 

 funds available. 



Operations, though curtailed, were carried along the same lines 

 as in former years. More attention, however, was given to small 

 projects such as those of farm drainage that would bring quick 

 results, and less to the larger undertakings. Certain technical in- 

 vestigations w^hich had been started in former years and which re- 

 quired continuous records to yield their greatest value were con- 

 tinued. 



Cooperative working agreements with the States of Alabama, 

 Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee were continued. 



During the year 126 separate surveys, in 13 States, were made, 

 and drainage plans prepared for farms where the owner desired 

 either to install tile or construct terraces. In many other cases 

 field examinations were made and advice given informally. The 

 manuscript for a bulletin on farm drainage, to be publishecT by the 

 West Virginia College of Agriculture, Avas prepared, as Avas also 

 one for publication by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion. 



A report on drainage conditions in Michigan Avas prepared after 

 a full investigation of all aspects of the situation in that State. 

 This report Avas prepared in cooperation Avith, and published by, 

 the Michigan Geological and Biological Survey. Studies of the 

 cost of operation of drainage pumping plants in southern Louisiana 

 Avere continued. The study of the matter of drainage assessments 

 was resumed after having been suspended during the Avar. 



A comprehensive study of the drainage problem presented by the 

 Ked River of the North has been undertaken. This Avork consisted 

 mainly in the correlation of existing data, and has for its ultimate 

 object the correction of the OA^erfloAv and permanently wet condi- 

 tions of extensive tracts of land along the river in Minnesota, 

 North Dakota, and South Dakota. Twenty-seven preliminary ex- 

 aminations Avere made of overflowing streams and swamp areas in 

 various States and reports submitted to landowners. 



Studies of underground Avater and the subsidence of muck soils 

 after draining Avere made in Florida. Investigations of methods 



