390 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pounds required to pull a 14-in. plow cutting furrows of different widths and 

 depths, together with the horsepower required at a rate of movement of 2i 

 miles per hour. 



Stone-gathering machines, W. L. Summers (Jour. Dcpt. Agr. So. Aust., 

 9 (19(16). Xo. 12, pp. 786. 787).— The writer describes the efforts being made in 

 South Australia to evolve an effective machine which would remove loose 

 stumps and stones from cultivable land, thereby reducing the cost of clearing. 

 Although prizes were offered and several trials held, no machine has yet been 

 designed which will meet the requirements. 



A machine for picking cotton (Qiieoislaiid Agr. Jour., 11 (1906), A'o. 2, 

 pp. 106-108, iJ?«. 2). — The construction, operation, and efficiency of a cotton- 

 picking machine invented by George A. Lowry are discussed. 



Implements and machinery at the Suffolk show (Impl. and Much. Rev., 

 32 (1906), No. 375, pp. 320-325, figs. 11).— The results of tests of a large number 

 of various agricultural tools are given, one trial of especial interest being in 

 the showing made by a l^-ton tractor driven by a petrol or paraffin motor. 

 This machine plowed an acre of light dry soil in 21 hours, using G gal. of petrol 

 and hauling a 3-furrow plow. The same machine subsequently operated a 

 thrashing machine, pulled in turn a 4i-ton load, a 7-tiue cultivator, and two 

 6-ft. mowers. 



Some observations in the farm machine and implement section of the 

 D- L. G. exhibition at Berlin-Schoneberg, (i. Kuhne {Masch. Ztg., // (1906), 

 No. Ill, pp. 158-162). — A large number of tools, implements, and prime movers 

 are mentioned and briefly described. 



Of special intei'est among the latter are portable farm engines of from 8 to 

 2G horsepower, using producer gas on the suction principle. In this type of 

 machine a gas producer, together with its scrubber and cooler, is made a part 

 of the equipment, and with the engine is mounted on a strong four-wheeled 

 wagon. The producer is adapted for anthracite coal or coke, as well as for 

 peat, lignite, and wood. The coal consumption guaranteed is O.G kg. per liorse- 

 power hour for machines of from 8 to 12 horsepower. 



In order to be able to compete with an equipment showing such notable 

 economy manufacturers of steam engines are improving their designs, and a 

 portable steam plant is described in which a 120-horsepower compound engine 

 uses superheated steam and Is provided with a condenser. By this equipment 

 a saving of 40 per cent in fuel and 24 per cent in water eonsumiition is effected 

 over the same size machine using saturated steam. 



A portable apparatus for farm-power purr>oses. in which is combined a gaso- 

 line engine, a set of storage batteries, and dynamo-motor, is described, as is 

 also a small explosion motor in which there are certain novel features, notably 

 a peculiar adjustable cylinder lining, making piston rings unnecessary. 



Cement mortars, M. Ringelmann (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 12 (1906), No. 

 29, pp. 76-78). — Directions as to the proportions and methods of using mortars 

 made with lime and hydraulic cements. When using quicklime the proportions 

 recommended for masonry are : Lime, 1 volume ; coarse sand, 2 to 2.5 volumes. 

 For plaster, lime, 1 volume ; medium or fine sand, 0.5 to 1 volume. 



When using hydraulic or Portland cement the following is recommended : 

 For ordinary masonry foundations, pavements, and plaster, use 1 volume of 

 cement to 3.3 volumes of medium-sized river sand. For a very energetic moi'- 

 tar, use 1 volume of cement to 1.8 to 2.0 volumes of line sand. For mortar to 

 be used under water, use 1 vohnne of cement to 1.5 volumes medium ri^er sand. 



What the farmer can do with concrete, C. H. Miller (Fanning, 2 (1906), 

 No. 2, pp. 11-13, figs. IJi). — A popular article on the varied applications of con- 



