East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-02-10


ment of agriculture has been carrying
on irrigation Investigations in the
state OF California in cooperation,
first. with California Water and FOR
est Association. and later with the
state itself under an appropriation
made for this cooperative work.
This work included the collection
OF information as TO the quantity of
water used in irrigation; pumping
water for irrigation; tests of pumps
to determine the most efficient types
and the best conditions for their oper-
alton; and tests of various kinds of
fuel to determine which will produce
the largest result from given ex-
penditure.
Another line or Investigations has
been studies of the best methods OF
preparing land for irrigation and ap-
plying water to crops; experiments to
ascertain the absolute water require
ments OF plants; and studies OF econ
omic and business questions connect
ed with canal management, in order
to determine what form of organiza-
tion will bring about the most Just
and economical distribution Of. the
water supply ~ - < ss
A preliminary report of this CO.
operative work has just been issued
by the office of experiment stations
OF the U. s. department of agriculture
as Circular No. SO, of that office. A
large number of pumping plants have
been tested to determine their eff
cheney and the cost of raising water.
Cost Of Raising Water.
This circular gives the reports of
a number of these tests the final re-
suit in each case being given in the
form of the cost of fuel for raising
water 80 feet to cover one acre of
ground to a depth of IS inches. I'm
der the various plants reported on,
this cost varies from 80 cents to $3.50.
Data were collected from a large
number Of owners of pumps regard
ing the amount of water used and
the cost Of raising it. The reports
from 12 of these pumping plans show
an average depth of 1.24 feet of wa
ter applied at an average cost OF Sc
per acre. The gross crop returns
from "a orchards irrigated with water
supplied from pumping plants aver
aged s136 per acre.
Measurements of the losses of wa
ter by evaporation were carried on at
Tulare, Pomona and Calexico. The
total for the IL months at Tulare
was 74.6S inches. at Pomona 66.62
inches, and at Calexico 10S.23 inches
At each place the greatest evaporation
occurred during the months of June,
July and August. a. ~
with a view to discovering means
for checking this great loss of water
investigations into the causes of evap-
Grafton have been carried on. An ex-
pertinent was made TO determine the
effect of heat upon the amount of
water evaporated. The water in
tanks exposed to like conditions was
kept at different degrees Of heat. The
following table shows the results in
weekly losses;
:. Loss by Evaporation.
Weekly losses from evaporation at
different temperatures.
The temperature of the water at
55.5 degrees Fahrenheit the loss by
evaporation was 0.42 inches; at So de-
grees, the loss wasi0.77 inches; at 66.s
degrees, 1.54 inches; at SOL degrees.
3.0s inches, and at s9.2 degrees, ace
sinches.
The foregoing shows that water
with a temperature of 1872 degrees
lost almost 40 times as much as wa
ter maintained at a temperature of
55.5 degrees.
: The circular states that expert
ments to determine the evaporation
Of water from soils were also made.
but results are not yet compiled.
The effects of applying water By
I different methods on the quantity o.
water lost by evaporation were made
.salso. Three methods were tested: 'C1l
Applying water by surface floodin
(2) applying water in shallow fur
rows, and ts) applying water D, il
deep burrows.
The results shows that much les
water is lost when It is applied II
deep burrows than by either Of thu
other methods. and that the creates
i loss comes from applying water t.
the surface. The circular contains
comparisons of various methods o
applying water to land, giving state
ments of the advantages and disad
rantages aof each method and It's ap
plicability to different conditions.
The relative merits of irrigated ant
unirrigated fruit are discussed. Tn
general conclusion Is that irrigate,
fruits are superior in quality. are bet
ter for canning and for drying.
This circular is a preliminary re
port of the work done in Californii
under the cooperative arrangement
described above. A full report of .th'
work is being prepared and will b'
published during the present year a
a bulletin of the office of expert
ment stations, This circular can b.
obtained by application to the direc
tor Of the office OF experiment sta
tions washington. D.. c.
Polsons' In Food.