The Ground Water. 
11 
that of well B than in that of wells A and C on either side of it. 
This was not influenced by the height of the wells, for A was 0.70 
of a foot lower, and C 0.77 of a foot higher than B. This irrigation 
caused an increase of 1.2286 parts per thousand in the solids in 
A, 2.7714 parts in that of C, and rather less than 0.0428 parts in 
that of B. In the case of well D there was an actual depres¬ 
sion of the solids by 0.0714 parts per thousand, but this was prob¬ 
ably due to the running in of water from the surface. The sub¬ 
sequent deportment of this well was similar to that of well B. 
§ 29. The total solids in wells A and C increased sud¬ 
denly after the irrigation and then fell again, reaching the point 
at which they stood prior to the irrigation in about three weeks. 
In wells D and B the total solids increased throughout this 
period, at the end of which the water in B showed its maximum 
content for the season, 4.2143 parts per thousand; in D, how¬ 
ever, they continued to increase for three weeks longer before 
reaching their maximum for the season of 3.6986 parts. The 
maximum quantity of salts in solution in the water of well A was 
reached immediately after the irrigations, 3.7857 and 3.8143 parts 
per thousand respectively ; the minimum was found in September, 
2.7871 parts per thousand; in B the minimum was found in May 
and the maximum in September, more than three weeks after the 
irrigation. In C the minimum was found in June, immediately 
before irrigation, and the maximum, 5.1929 parts per thousand, in 
August, immediately after irrigation. In D the minimum was found 
in June and the maximum in October, over six weeks after the last 
irrigation. From October, 1897, till May, 1898, the total solids in 
the water gradually decreased, with only a few increases which 
were slight and immediately lost. The net result at the end of the 
year was a very slight decrease in the salts held in solution by the 
ground water. The wells showed the following quantities of salts 
in solution at the beginning and end of the year respectively: 
A, 3.6114—2.8714 parts per thousand; B, 2.7843—2.8328 parts 
per thousand; C, 2.5143—2.0329 parts per thousand; and D, 
2.5700—2.0843 parts per thousand. 
§ 30. The deportment of well B is not such as one would 
expect to observe in it judging from its location. Wells A and C 
were located in wetter and apparently more strongly alkalized, sec¬ 
tions than well B, and the sample of the soil taken near B showed 
the presence of less sulfuric acid and soda than those from near the 
other two wells, yet the water from this well is richer in dissolved 
salts throughout the year than the others, excepting that of well A 
for the month of May alone. 
§ 31. When the height of the water plane is raised by irriga¬ 
tion water, or a continued rainfall, the percolating water carries the 
