RURAL ENGINEERING. 49 



(1) Pi'climiiuiry work in the collection and publication of infornia 

 tion rei^aidint^ the evolution, character, and uses of farm implonicnts 

 and machinery in this and other countries. This is important, because 

 the availalde literature on the subject is scattered, frajrmentary, and 

 out of date. A small bet^inning ha.s just been made in this direction 

 in a bulletin on The Kvolution of Reaping Machines, recently pub- 

 lished ))y this Othce, and another bulletin describing corn-harvesting 

 machinery, which is being prepared. 



(2) Laboratory and practical tests, involving a study of principles 

 of construction and methods of operation of farm implements and 

 machinery with special reference to efficiency and economy. These 

 might very properly include certain strictly technical in<iuiries regard- 

 ing the fundamental nature of the various mechanical farm operations 

 with a view of suggesting the best means of performing them with the 

 implements and machines at present available, or with others, the con- 

 struction of which will be indicated by the results of the inquiries. 



As an illustration of the usefulness of such work, the numerous tests 

 which the experiment stations have already made of separators and 

 other dairy apparatus ma}' be cited. These tests have in general been 

 so conducted as to bring out the relative effectiveness of different kinds 

 of dairy apparatus without improperly advertising the merits of par- 

 ticular machines, and in this way both the dairymen and the manufac- 

 turers have been benefited. 



S. Doc. 148, 58-2 1 



