RURAL ENGINEERING. 187 



count of its evolution in this country and in Kn;,Man(l. and sovoral sliort articles 

 givinjr tlio oxiHM-ience of users of traction plows. In tlit-so are f^iveu data as to 

 cost of oiieratinj; and the capacity of engines and plows under various soil con- 

 ditions and in different localities. 



Trials with commercial fertilizer spreaders at Dalum Agricultural School, 

 1908, M. Dall (Tidsskr. Landokntwiui, 1909. Xo. J, /)/). /,?.9-/',2). — An illus- 

 trated account of trials of four types of spreaders, with descriptions of the 

 machines, tabulated results of the trials, and a statement of the awards of 

 prizes. 



Industrial alcohol in relation to the farmer, R. H. True {A)iii. Rpt. Wis. 

 Bd. Agr., 1908, pi). .',02-J,ll ; Bicn. Rpt. Kans. Bd. Agr., 16 (1907-8). pp. 687- 

 696). — The author gives a brief account of the requirements of the revenue 

 laws, the composition and denaturing of alcohol, the raw materials available for 

 its manufacture, its uses for lighting, heating, and power, and a discussion of 

 economical production. 



As regards economical production he states that, although there has been a 

 very great increase in the manufacture of denatured alcohol since the enact- 

 ment of the law relating to it, it seems improbable that the farmer will become 

 an effective factor in the total distillation of the country, because of the large 

 investment and plant which is required by maximum economy of operation. 

 The influeuce of the law may, however, be felt by the farmer in increasing the 

 market for his corn and other- fermentable products. 



Deriving ethyl alcohol from sawdust, G. U. Borde (Manfrs. Rec, 55 

 (1909). \(i. 1'). pp. .'i-'). 'i6). — The author gives here an account of experiments 

 which he conducted in France with a still constructed especially for manufac- 

 turing ethyl alcohol from sawdust. The process is briefly described, with data 

 relative to the cost and economy of operation. It is estimated from the results 

 obtained that the net return from 1,000 ft. B. M. of lumber would be $33.51 if 

 this method is employed. 



The peat fuel industry of Canada (Eiigiii. and Min. Jour., 87 (1909), No. 

 18, p. 905). — This is an abstract of a memorandum presented by the Dominion 

 superintendent of mines to the Canadian House of Conuuons. The question of 

 utilizing peat bogs and lignite deposits is attracting attention because of present 

 economic conditions. From reports received there is estimated to be in the 

 Dominion about 37.000 sq. miles of peat bogs from 5 to 10 ft. deep, but this is 

 thought to be but a small fraction of the total. 



It is believed that the successful working of bogs and the manufacture of raw 

 peat into marketable fuel is possible, and an experimental plant for determining 

 the value of peat and lignite is reconunended. 



The peat resources of the United States, C. A. Davis (Engin. Mag.. 87 

 (1909), No. 1, pp. 80-89). — This article discusses more particularly the utiliza- 

 tion of peat for fuel, including gas, charcoal, and coke production, for paper 

 making, fiber production, fertilizer tiller, and alcohol. The total amount of 

 availal»!e peat in the United States is estimated at 12.88S.50O.OO0 tons. 



Reports upon the Irish peat industries, II, H. Ryan (Econ. Proc. Rog. 

 DuIjUh »Soc., 1 (1908), No. IS, pp. .',65-5Ji6, pis. 2, figs. 78).— Reports on tho 

 peat fuel and distillation industries are given, with a systematic bibliography 

 of references to literature relating to peat and peat industries. 



The sanitation, water supply, and sewage disposal of country houses, 

 W. I'. Gerhard (New York. 1909, pp. XX-\-3.i8. Jigs. 113, inn p. I).— An stated 

 in the preface, " the first part of the book treats of the general sanitation of 

 country houses, brings a comparison of life in the city and in the country 

 from a health point of view, dwells on the advantages of country life, and 

 gives a condensed summary of the essential requirements of heallhfuluess in 

 732— No. 2—00 7. 



