RURAL ENGINEERING. 389 



It is found that it rtMiuirrs l.UCi Im. of potatoes to id'oduce 1 '^al. of pure 

 alcohol. The cost is diliicult of determination, d('|)endinf; upon a variety of 

 factors such as the size of distillery, efliciency of apparatus and methods, and 

 upon the disposal of by-products. Statistics are given relating to the use of 

 alcohol for drinking and industrial purposes, to the use of incompletely 

 denatured alcohol, and the consunii)tion of tax-free alcohol. The methods of 

 denaturing are discussed, and systems of distribution and government control 

 described. 



In the case of France, similar information is given, with description of the 

 methods pursued by the Government in the attempt to e.xtend the use of the 

 denatured product. Its use seems not to have been attended with much suc- 

 cess as a fuel, either for lighting or power. Although it was found by experi- 

 ment to be a pure and economical fuel, it required a special type of engine 

 and was found to erode valves and cylinder surfaces. When used in lamps 

 it was attended with no success whatever, due probably to the ineffective char- 

 acter of the apparatus. 



Boyal agricultural show {Engineer [London^, 102 {1906), No. 2636, pp. 

 16-18. fi(if(. S). — A description of various types of road locomotives and power 

 machinery exhibited at the Derby show. A gas-producer test is mentioned iu 

 which tlie consumption of anthracite pea coal was 0.785 lb. per brake horse- 

 power per hour. 



Cylinder cooling in the alcohol engine {Engin. Rec, 5^ {1906), No. Jf, 

 p. 87). — It is asserted that the flame of burning alcohol radiates heat less rap- 

 idly than that of gasoline and that, therefore, the problem of cooling the cylin- 

 ders of alcohol motors will be less ditiicult than with those using gasoline. 



The efficiency of suction gas plants: Remarkable results {Impl. and Maclt. 

 AVr.. 32 {1906). No. J7//, pp. 1S8, 189).— The saving effected by the use of these 

 plants and gas engines over the old steam plants, as given by various users, 

 amounts to 75 to 80 per cent. 



Farming by steam power, J. L. Donahue {Threshermen''s Rev., 15 {1906), 

 No. 9, p. 7). — A problem iu connection with farming in the semiarid lauds of 

 Colorado and New Mexico is the breaking up of the largest possible area in 

 the limited time during the early spring when the ground is in condition to 

 plow. It is equally important that this ground be packed and harrowed simul- 

 taneously with the plowing in order to conserve the soil moisture. To solve 

 this problem and at the same time reduce the expense to the minimum, steam 

 power has been employed with considerable success. A 32-horsepower engine 

 pulled 8 14-in. moldboard plows, 2 corrugated iron rollers, 2 harrows, and 2 

 seed drills, by which it was possible to plant 12 acres in peas per day of 10 

 hours, at an expense of $25 per day. Without the seeders 20 acres could be 

 plowed, packed, and harrowed per day at an expense of $1.25 i)er acre. With 

 ground in less favorable condition the expense is greater. 



The chief factors of cost in operation are coal and the hauling of water. It 

 is suggested that the use of the alcohol engine luay reduce the probable cost 

 of operation to 50 cts. per acre. 



Steam plows used {Earm Machinerij, 1906, No. 767, p. 2'/). — It is asserted 

 tliat by the use of steam plows and other labor-saving devices an increase in yield 

 of sugar cane of 50 per cent has been effected in Trinidad, thus assuring the 

 contiiniance of an industry which was in danger of becoming extinct through 

 the effects of competition of Cuba and Porto Rico. 



The draft of plows {Threshcrmen's Rev., 15 {1906), No. 8, p. 20).— In an 

 article copied from the Country GenUeman tables are compiled from the results 

 of draft trials made in England and this country, which show the total number of 



