258 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XI, 
had been excavated. No rain gages were kept on this district during this 
period, so that the rainfall records from surrounding stations necessarily 
must be used. In view of the above features, it is not considered that 
the records of amount pumped during these earlier years would be of 
value for comparison with those of other districts. Therefore the records 
(Table VII) are given only for the period beginning January, 1913. 
Conditions during 1913.—During 1913 quite extensive changes were 
made. The construction of the main drainage channels was carried 
forward rapidly. The spacing of the main channels is % mile with the 
usual field ditches leading into them. A main canal carries the water to 
the pumping plants. A second pumping plant was constructed during 
the summer and placed in operation toward the end of the year. From 
the beginning of the year until May 1, the entire area was tributary to 
the old pumping plant; after that date the area was reduced to 2,400 
acres, the remaining land being dammed off and not drained. From 
September 22 until October 29 water was allowed to run over these dams 
from the undrained portion into the canals of the drained portion. On 
October 29 these dams were closed, after which the old plant drained the 
2,400 acres, and the new plant drained the remaining 4,543 acres. The 
records given in Table VII show the data from the old plant alone. The 
2,400 acres drained by the old plant were almost completely ditched by 
the end of the year, and about 200 or 300 acres were in cultivation. 
Conditions during 1914.—Until the middle of May the district was 
still divided between the old and the new pumping plants. The 2,400 
acres drained by the old plant were very completely drained and the canals 
were cleared of a great deal of soft mud and vegetable matter. The 
cutting of the field ditches in this portion was nearly finished. After 
the middle of May the two portions of the district were connected and 
all drainage water pumped by the new plant. The 24-hour capacity of 
the new plant is about 1.25 inches of water over the entire area of 6,943 
acres. The canals in the newer portion of the district were deepened 
and widened, and the cutting of the field ditches was nearing completion. 
In the portion of the district near the old pumping plant, where culti¬ 
vation was being started, the water was held very low for the entire year; 
while in the newer portions where ditching operations had not started, 
the drainage was not nearly so complete. The capacity of the com¬ 
pleted and enlarged reservoir canals was now nearly an inch of water from 
the entire area. By the end of 1914 the area ditched had been increased 
to 5,400 acres, and 1,680 acres were in cultivation. (See Table VII.) 
Conditions during 1915.—The entire area was drained during this 
year by the new pumping plant. The early part of the year was marked 
by heavy rainfall, but after March the spring and summer months were 
unusually dry. The ditched area was gradually increased during the 
year to about 6,500 acres and the cultivated area to about 4,500 acres. 
The records were interrupted toward the end of September by the admis- 
