892 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and detailed directions presented for building a sanitary privy and keeping 

 it in proper condition. 



The L. 11. S. privy, an apparatus devised by liUmsdeu, Roberts, and Stiles* 

 consists of the following parts: "(1) A water-tight barrel or other container 

 to receive and liquefy the excreta. 



"(2) A covered water-tight barrel, can, or other vessel to receive the effluent 

 or outflow. 



"(3) A connecting pipe about 24 in. in diameter, about 12 in. long, and pro- 

 vided with an open T at one end, both openings of the T being covered with 

 wire screens. 



"(4) A tight box, preferably zinc lined, which fits tightly on the top of the 

 liquefying barrel. It is provided with an opening on top for the seat, which 

 has an automatically closing lid. 



"(5) An antisplashing device consisting of a small board placed horizontiilly 

 under the seat about an inch below the level of the transverse connecting pipe ; 

 it is held In place by a rod, which passes through eyes or rings fastened to the 

 box, and by which the board is raised and lowered. The liquefying tank is 

 filled with water up to the point where it begins to trickle into the effluent tank. 



"As an insect repellent a thin film of some form of petroleum may be poured 

 on the surface of the liquid in each barrel." 



This device is believed to eliminate the fly and mosquito problem, liquefies 

 fecal material, reduces odor and the labor of cleaning, and is of simple and 

 inexpensive construction. 



Water power for the farm and country home, D. R. Cooper {'New York: 

 State Water Supply Com., 1911, pp. 45, figs. 30).— The installation of power- 

 driven r lachinery and its advantages are discussed, as well as the development 

 of electric power from water power and related questions. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



General agricultural data for the United States ([/. S. Dept. Com. and 

 Lat)or, Bur. Census [Press BuL], 1911, Sept. 7, /o?io).— This is an advance 

 statement from the Thirteenth Census containing general agricultural data 

 for the United States, collected as of April 15, 1910. 



It is shown that the increase in the number of farms has not kept pace with 

 the increase in population, the number of farms having increased 10.5 per cent, 

 while the total population shows an increase of 21 per cent. A decrease is 

 leported in the average size of farms from 146 acres in 1900 to 138 acres in 

 1910, but the improved land has increased from 414,499,000 acres in 1900 to 

 477,448,000 acres in 1910, a gain of 15.2 per cent. The average value of farm 

 property is shown to have increased from $15.57 per acre in 1900 to $32.49 

 per acre in 1910, an increase of 108.7 per cent. 



The factors mentioned as contributing to the increased value of farm land 

 include the advanced farm prices of agricultural products; capitalizing the 

 Income-producing power at a lower rate of interest than formerly; the cost of 

 improving what was previously unimproved land ; the depletion of desirable 

 free land resulting in an increase in the number of buyers ; an increased demand 

 for homes in the open country ; and the expenditure of much labor and money 

 on various kinds of improvements, such as the building of roads, bridges, 

 schoolhouses, and other rural improvements. 



The following table shows more t^etailed data as to general agricultural 

 operations : 



«Pi:b. Health and Mar. Hosp. Serv. U. S., Pub. Health Rpts., 25 (1910), lop. 

 1619-1623. 



