RURAL ENGINEERING. 893 



Drainage reclamation in Tennessee, G. 11. Ashley, A. E. Morgan, and S. H. 

 McCrory {Term. Geol. Survey Bui. 3, 1910, pp. 7J,, pi. i).— This bulletin deals 

 with drainage reclamation in Tennessee under 3 headings: The first, Drainage 

 Problems in Tennessee, discusses the meteorology, geography, need of drainage, 

 and drainage possibilities of the State; the second is a preliminary report on 

 the Drainage of Lands Overflowed in Gibson County, giving information and 

 data on the precipitation and run-off in the county and the details of surveys ; 

 and the third is a copy of the state drainage law of Tennessee. 



German development of the hydraulic ram, R. P. Skinner (Daily Cons, and 

 Trade Rpts. [U. 8.], 15 (1912), No. 78, pp. 22, 23).— This article calls attention 

 to the methods and cost of operation of a new phase of the hydraulic ram called 

 the hydropulsor, by means of which it is claimed that the flowing and ebbing 

 of the tide or the flowing of rivers of very small fall can be utilized as a means 

 of pumping for land drainage, generating energy, and raising water in locks. 



Agricultural electricity, A. Petit (Electricity Agricolc. Paris, 1909, pp. //2//, 

 flgs. SI). — This publication deals with the uses of, and the methods of gener- 

 ating and using, electricity on the farm. It discusses the production of electric 

 energy by means of water and wind power and steam and internal combustion 

 engines, the transmission of electric energy, use of electric energy on the farm 

 by transforming It into mechanical energy, heat for lighting, cooking, etc., and 

 chemical energy for electro-chemical use ; explains the physiological effects of 

 the electric current as a precaution against accidents and for electroculture, and 

 the care and maintenance of electrical installations; and describes existing 

 examples of installations on farms. 



The gas pump (Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 3 (1912), No. 2, pp. 237-239, 

 fig. 1 ) . — This article describes the operation of a gas-driven pump suitable for 

 lift irrigation. 



This pump is extremely simple in construction and operation, the explosive 

 force acting directly on the water so that no fly wheel, crank shaft, solid piston, 

 connecting rod, or bearings are required. The movement of the water in the 

 pump draws in fresh water, exhausts burnt products, draws in a fresh combus- 

 tible charge, and compresses the charge previous to ignition. It thus makes a 

 complete cycle of operations as in an ordinary gas engine, except that the ex- 

 pansion of burnt products is carried to atmospheric pressure, when the exhaust 

 valve opens and expansion continues below atmospheric pressure, forcing the 

 water into the suction box, compressing the new charge of gas, and starting a 

 new cycle of operation. The ignition is timed by a small apparatus which 

 closes an ignition circuit of batteries, coil, and spark plug at the point of 

 maximum compression. 



Mechanical plowing, C. Costantini (Bol. Quind. Soc. Agr. It ah, 17 (1912), 

 No. 5, pp. 127-131, flgs. 4). — This article outlines the methods of operation of 

 a system of mechanical plowing and gives data on the cost of operation. The 

 system consists essentially of a motor attached to 2 windlass cars which pull 

 a balanced plow back and forth across the field. 



Tests of machinery for vine cultivation (Arl). Dcut. Landiv. Gcsell., 1912, 

 No. 201, pp. 120, pis. 3, figs. 165).— This work describes and gives the methods 

 and results' of tests and examinations of a number of various implements and 

 other apparatus to be used in vine cultivation, including horse implements for 

 cultivating the ground, spraying apparatus and machinery, fumigation appa- 

 ratus and machinery, and trellises. 



An automatic motor-driven vine cultivator, P. de la Bathie (Rev. Tit., 37 

 (1912), No. 950, pp. 261-264, figs. 3).— The mechanical details and operation of 

 a machine for summer cultivation of vines are described in this article. 



