388 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



country. Mills which disappeared from our markets 20 years ago are yet 

 being sold in South Africa. Some of these are so poorly built that it requires 

 a strong wind to turn them ; iu others the towers are so weak that they are 

 unable to resist storms. The mill for the irrigation of a small farm in South 

 Africa must be designed to lift enough water from a depth of 25 to 30 ft. 

 to cover daily 1 acre of laud with water to a depth of 3 iu. Further considera- 

 tions are ease of erection, simplicity of mechanism, and automatic regulation 

 as far as possible. 



The usual wind velocity observed along the seacoast and in exposed places 

 is 12 to IS miles per hour; iu the interior, 8 miles per hour. 



The difficulty of surveying deep bore holes (Eiigiti. Rec, .5^ (1906), No. 4, 

 p. 87). — A method is described in which the difficulty is surmounted by the use 

 of photography. 



Fourth annual report of the State board of public roads of the State of 

 Rhode Island, 1906 (Ann. Rpt. Bd. Pub. Roads R. I., 4 {1906), pp. 37, pis. 

 39). — An account of the work accomplished and iu progress under the Rhode 

 Island " good I'oads law." 



The road drag for improving earth roads (Engin. News, 55 (1906), No. 2If, 

 pp. 666, 667, figs. 2). — The Illinois Highway Commission recommends a light 

 road drag for improving the condition of muddy roads ; the lighter and more 

 simple the drag, tlTe greater its effectiveness. 



A form recommended is that consisting of two split logs 10 and 12 in. in 

 diameter and 9 ft. long, held parallel to each other and about 3 ft. apart by 

 suitable braces. A chain is attached with a short and long hitch so that the 

 drag travels at about 45° to the direction of the road. The flat surface of the 

 split logs is on the forward side, and the lower edge should be protected by a 

 strip of wagon tire. More complicated forms of drags are shown and the theory 

 of road dragging explained. 



Roads and tires {Engin. Rec, 54 {1906), No. Jf, p. 81). — Reference is made 

 to the increasing difficulty iu designing and maintaining good roads suitable 

 for all kinds of traffic. It is pointed out that while a smooth, hard surface, such 

 as a steel roadway, might be ideal for the use of heavy freight traffic, it would 

 be poorly adapted for the rubber tires of motor cars, which slip on smooth 

 wet surfaces. Although a macadam pavement is excellent in affording a bite or 

 grip for traction purposes, it is very rapidly worn out, since the binding material 

 is swept out as dust or mud under the action of motor-car tires. It is sug- 

 gested that the solution of the difficulty may be found in elastic but solid tired 

 wheels, a more resilient roadbed, or a combination of both. 



The application of electric motors to agricultural operations, F. Koester 

 {Engin. Mag.. 31 (IDOG), No. 5, pp. 655-667, figs. 15). — An article descriptive 

 of the use of electric power iu agricultural operations on farms in Europe, 

 with some arguments as to its advantages, mainly from the standpoint of 

 ease of distribution and lessened fire hazard. Little data are given as to 

 economy, but this may well be questioned for any but the most extensive un- 

 dertakings in the light of the fact that the first cost of a plow system averages 

 about .$10,000. 



Denatured alcohol, its use in Germany and France {Daily Consular and 

 Trade Rpts. [U. 8.], 1906, No. 2662, pp. 1-11).— An article prepared by the 

 consuls-general of Berlin and Paris in response to the generally expi-essed 

 desire for information on the subject. 



Statistics are given showing that in Germany a large proportion of the alcohol 

 output is derived from potatoes, the production of which for this purpose is 

 the chief support of mauy of the farming regions remote from business centers. 



