J 166 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



of the liver are subject to hemorrhage and rn])ture of the organ, allowing the 

 blood to flow freely into the body cavity. 



The Sarcosporidia of sheep, F. Janin {Arch. Par., 11 (1907), No. 2, pp. 

 233-268, pi. 1, fif/s. 3). — An elaborate biological account is given of the peculiar 

 protozoan organisms known as Miescher's sacs and by other names and fre- 

 quently observed as parasites of domestic animals, including sheep. A study of 

 these organisms has convinced the author that the 2 genera Sarcocystis and Bal- 

 biania should be retained and that B. gigantca, found about the esophagus of 

 sheep, is identical with Sarcocystis tenella. Notes are given on the biology of 

 these parasites and on the various forms observed in their development 



Structure of the spore of Sarcocystis tenella in sheep and goats, L. Per- 

 kier (Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol, ll'aris], 62 {1901), No. 10, pp. 47 8-Ji 80). —The spore 

 of this micro-organism, belonging to the Sarcosporidia, is described in detail and 

 attention is called to the bearing of these facts upon the relationship between 

 Sarcosporidia and Myxosporidia. 



A spirillosis and a hematozoal disease of domestic fowls in the Anglo- 

 Egyptian Soudan, A. Balfour {Brit. Mcil. ./our.. 1907, No. 2Jtl3. pp. 74.'/, 

 745). — The author observed a spirillosis of fowls apparently identical with a 

 form of septicemia described from outbreaks in Brazil and elsewhere. In the 

 outbreak referred to by the nuthor the birds had been imported from Italy and 

 it is suggested that an infection may have taken place through the agency of 

 ticks on shipboard. The incubation period is believed to be 5 or 6 days. 



A piroplasmosis was also observed and the author suggests that this disease 

 may be carried by ticks of the genus Argas. 



The biology of the organism of fowl plague, A. Lode {Centhl. Bakt. [etc.], 

 1. Abt., Orig., J,3 {1907), No. 4, pp. 355-359) .—The literature relating to the 

 pathogenic organism of fowl plague is briefly discussed with notes on the results 

 which the author obtained in his experiments. Pieces of infected tissue placed 

 in glycerin remain infectious for at least 3 to 4 months. The resisting power of 

 the virus of fowl plague in a 50 per cent glycerin suspension was almost equal 

 to that of Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. In general, the resisting power of 

 the virus toward all kinds of antiseptic agencies is greater than that of ordinary 

 bacteria and in the author's opinion raises the question whether Spirillum 

 parvmn should be considered as belonging to the bacteria. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Report on irrigation and drainage investigations during 1905-6, W. W. 



McLaughlin (t'tuli Sta. But. 99. pp. 126. pis. 2, figs. 8). — In the bulletin are 

 included reports upon the various irrigation and drainage investigations carried 

 on by the Utah Station in cooperation with this Office during the years 1905-6. 



The irrigation investigations were carried on in Sevier, Tooele, Boxelder, 

 Utah, Millard, Salt Lake, Weber, Morgan, and Cache counties, in each of which 

 attempts were made to determine the proper amounts of water to use in irriga- 

 tion and the proper number of applications. While various untoward circum- 

 stances somewhat impair the relial)ility of the results, two hypotheses were 

 evolved which further experiments are needed to verify, viz, that " crop produc- 

 tion tends to vary as the amount of Avater applied within certain limits," and 

 " that the productive value of an inch of irrigation water depends upon the 

 amount of water which has already been applied during the season." 



The drainage investigations were confined to those portions of the State where 

 land had become boggy or alkaline through seepage of water from adjacent and 

 higher irrigated fields. Experimental drains were installed on various farms in 

 six counties of the State and the results carefully noted in each instance. The 



