RUKAL ENGINEERING. 589 



settlers the possibilities of developing u water supply for the irrigation of a 

 small part of each landholding and the great advantages to be gained from its 

 use. Although the years covered by this report have had precipitation far above 

 the normal, irrigated crops have been far superior to crops grown without irri- 

 gation, and in addition the irrigated plats have yielded crops every season, while 

 the unirrigated land has yielded crops no oftener than every other year, and 

 those crops were usually light. 



Farm underdrainag'e: Does it pay? W. H. Day (Ontario Dept. Agr. Bui. 

 I'^^h PP- ^'h PO^- Jti). — Millions of acres in Ontario are so wet that seeding is 

 delayed from 2 to 6 weeks. Wood pipes formerly used have decayed and stone 

 ones have filled up, leaving the land in need of drainage. 



Letters from those for whom the college department of physics had surveyed 

 drains indicate that half of the correspondents were able to sow their drained 

 lands 4 weeks or more earlier than undrained laud, while nearly two-thirds of 

 them gained 3 weeks or more. The cost of drainage was frequently repaid 

 before the end of the first or second season in the increased yields of hay, 

 straw, grains, and peas. The average increased j'ields due to drainage were 

 25 bu. per acre in case of barley, 43 of oats, 10 of peas, 23 of fall wheat, 10 

 of spring wheat, 20 of corn, 35 of beans and S of a ton of hay, while the yield 

 of straw was reported as about doubled. At market prices in Guelph and 

 Toronto, the average gain per acre is computed at $21.65. 



Underdrainage is discussed in full as an investment and in its relation to 

 the tillage, aeration and temperature of the soil, as well as to its effect upon 

 bacterial action, the germination of seeds and development of the roots of the 

 various field crops and of trees. 



A portable panel fence, W. Dietrich {Illinois Sta. Circ. 132, pp. J/, fig. 1). — ■ 

 This describes in detail a method of constructing a portable fence, planned 

 primarily for swine but which may also be used for sheep and calves. The 

 fence consists of panels and triangles made of rough fence boards 6 in. wide. 

 The panels are 16 ft. long and make a fence 40 in. high when the lower boards 

 of the panels rest on the ground. 



Sanitary cow stalls, C. A. OcocK (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 185, pp. 3-18, figs. 

 9). — Several types of homemade sanitary cow stalls are illustrated and de- 

 scribed. The Model stalls can be built for about $6 each. The principal 

 features are (1) the movable crossbar near the hind feet of the cow which 

 causes her to move forward, and (2) a hay rack in front which compels the 

 cow to stand at the rear of the stall when eating. The Helendale stall, which 

 has swinging partitions, a crossbar front, and a chain in the rear, costs about 

 $5.75. The Ideal stall differs from the Model in having no hay rack in front 

 and in allowing more freedom to the animal by means of the chain arrangement. 

 It costs about $4.40. The New Ideal costs about $7.18 and is much like the 

 Ideal but is made of gas pipes, except the manger and partitions. Details are 

 also given regarding the construction of concrete stable floors and mangers. 



Electricity and agriculture, W. H. P. Cherry (Dept. Agr. N. 8. Wales, 

 Farmers' Bui. 18, pp. 26, figs. 24). — This article deals with the application of 

 electricity in the manufacture of nitrogen compounds, in electro-culture, and 

 various household and farm operations. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 20, 

 p. 688). 



Refrigeration on the homestead, H. V. Jackson and A. E. Lea (Dept. Agr. 

 N. S. Wales, Farmers' Bui. 11, 2. ed., pp. 16, pi. 1, figs. 9). — The problem of 

 farm refrigeration is discussed and data are given regarding machinery of 

 different makes, with special reference to conditions relating to small refrig- 

 erating plants. Information is summarized and discussed regarding farm 



