RURAL ENGINEERING. 87 



This furnished .ibout 1.7 aere-feet per acre under (Miltivation. The estimated 

 cost per acre when all the land is under water is $3.31 per acre. The system 

 complete cost .'?1() per acre. 



Implements and machinery at the Paris show {Impl. and ilach. Rev., SJi 

 {1909), X(i. '/OS, lip. l')()3-15t 1, pgs. 3). — An account is given of the annual show 

 held recentlj', and a number of the exhibits are described briefly. Among these 

 is r. new potato digger described as follows: "The digging apparatus is in the 

 form of a scoop carried on a frame with large steel wheels, and supported in 

 front by swivel wheels. A lever regulates the depth of scoop, which digs up the 

 earth with the potatoes, and both are carried up by a chain elevator, when the 

 soil is pulverized by the motion imiiarted and falls through the grid bottom. 

 The potatoes being thus shaken free from soil roll up the elevator and fall from 

 prongs into rows." 



There was also noted a road roller which is propelled by an internal com- 

 bustion engine, and is the outcome of experiments carried on for three years. 

 The drive is taken through a multiple disk clutch reducing gear direct to the 

 road wheels. 



Electrical plowing- tackle {Imp}, and Mach. Rev., 3^ (1909), JVo. 407. pp. 

 1315, 1316, pg. 1). — The plowing engine described and illustrated is fitted with a 

 device for anchorage which consists of a plate the length of the machine carried 

 by vertical channel sections sliding in brackets fixed to the frame. It is stated 

 that when the point of this plate is forced into the ground, the machine, which 

 weighs 4 tons, offers as much lateral resistance as the heaviest traction engine, 

 enabling it to perform deep plowing. 



Manure distributor, Sevegrand (Rev. Tit., 31 (1909), No. 196, pp. 302-305. 

 figs. 5). — The distributor which is described and illustrated is stated to be 

 designed especially to secure uniform distribution. This is accomplished by 

 giving an oscillatory movement to a cylinder at the bottom of a hopper by means 

 of two cranks actuated by gears attached to the axles. 



[A water-weed cutter] (Impl. and Mach. Rev., 34 (1909), No. 408, pp. 1496, 

 J491, figs. 3). — A new machine for cutting water-weeds is described. One of the 

 chief features is a stern wheel enabling it to turn in a little more than its own 

 length. The cutting of the weeds is performed by an arrangement of weed saws 

 in a V-shaped form, which is suspended from an oscillating hinged arm. The 

 cutting knives, which are of steel with scalloped edges, trail along just above 

 the bottom. 



The Heath book for threshermen, W. Boss (Winnipeg, 1908, pp. 312, figs. 

 55). — This is an elementary treatise on the subject of boilers and engines of 

 types used for traction and farm operations, and is intended to serve as a book 

 of instruction for engineers and firemen or others having to do with this class 

 of engines. The principles involved in engines and boilers, their construction 

 and their fittings are described, together wit]i practical suggestions as to their 

 care and operation. The book is in the nature of a handbook and contains in 

 addition to the above, tables of the properties of steam, weights and measures, 

 and other engineering data. 



Caterpillar traction eng-ine (Engin. News, 61 (1909), No. 1, p. 195, figs. 4)- — 

 The essential feature of this machine is an endless platform driving belt which 

 replaces the large drivers of the ordinary traction engine. It is stated to be 

 esi)ecially adapted to the loose, dry soils of the deserts, the adobe clays, and the 

 soft reclaimed lands bordering rivers. The construction and operation are 

 described. 



Farm building construction, R. Knoch (Landirirtschaftliehe Baulcundc. 

 Hanover, 1908, vol. 1, pp. 113, figs. 31; 1909, vol. 2, pp. 108, figs. 6'6).— These 



89610— No. 1—09 7 



