356 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



An automatic oiler for the destruction and prevention of mosquito larvae 

 in cesspools, E. II. and H. C. Ross {Ann. Trop. Med. and Par., 1 {1907), Xo. 2, 

 pp. 165-167). — A description is given of a simple apparatus consisting of a 

 crude oil can furnished with 2 openings plugged with cotton and sand so that 

 the water enters the can slowly as the oil is forced outward at the upper open- 

 ing. The oil passes out of the can at the rate of about 50 ce. daily for nearly 

 2 months. It is recommended that the automatic oiler be removed and re- 

 placed by a new one after 10 weeks. The apparatus costs about 12 cts. 



The East African honeybee, J. Vosselee (Ber. Land u. Forstw. Deiitsch- 

 Ostafrika, 3 (1907), A'o. 2, pp. i -5-29). —Throughout German East Africa there 

 is a race of honeybees considerably smaller than German bees and dis- 

 tinguished by a brownish-red color of the first abdominal ring. Occasionally 

 this brown ring is absent and the bees then resemble the. German race of bees 

 except for their small size. 



The East African bees are industrious workers and gather honey almost 

 continuously. The seasons for honey-bearing flowers are not as marked as in 

 temperate climates, but while the conditions are favorable for plant growth 

 during the whole year the best condition of honey-producing plants is observed 

 during certain seasons which correspond in a way to our spring and summer. 



Scales for weighing beehives, C. Jungfleisch (Apicitlteur, 51 (1907), No. 

 7, pp. 282-287, figs. 5). — Recently considerable "interest has been mauifested 

 in securing a practical type of scales for weighing colonies of bees. The 

 author maintains that it is highly desirable to have such an appai*atus. since 

 otherwise it is almost impossible to determine the condition of the colony 

 with regard to the amount of its stores. It is not considered necessary that the 

 scales should be graduated so as to show actual pounds, but should merely indi- 

 cate whether the colony is increasing or diminishing in weight. 



The Caucasian sericultural station; its organization and work from 1887 

 to 1905 {Kavkazskaya >Shelkorodstvcninnja Staiitzija cija l'><troistvo i Dye- 

 yatehiost, 1887-1905. Tiflis: Caucasian SericuUural Sta., 1906, vol. 1. pp. IV 

 +537, plK. 36, figs. 113; 1907, vol. 2, pp. IV+517, pis. 5).— In part 1 a general 

 historical statement is given of the development of sericulture in those coun- 

 tries which are most noted for this industry and of the governmental and other 

 assistance which has been offered for promoting sericulture. Particular atten- 

 tion is directed to a historical account of the organization and development 

 of the Caucasian sericultural station, biograi)hies of the men connected with 

 this work, and the special lines to which they have devoted their energies. 



In the second part the work accomplished by the station is discussed with 

 reference to the original contributions made to the science of sericulture, and 

 the practical methods devised and popularized by the officials connected with 

 the station. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



Report on bleaching of flour, H. Snyder ([8t. Anthony Parle, M/hh.]; 

 Author, 1906, pp. 15). — The deductions which the author drew from the investi- 

 gations reported follow : 



" When flour is bleached by the action of electricity no mineral nitrites are 

 formed, but there is a feeble combination of nitrogen peroxid with water, to the 

 extent of about 0.00(K).3 of a part to ICM) parts of flour. 



" This gas residue is entirely expelled when the bread is baked in an oven from 

 which all gases of combustion are excluded. Bread made from bleached flour 

 and properly baked contains no trace of the bleaching gas. 



" Bread made from unbleached flour and baked in a gas oven in which the 

 oven is connected with the combustion chamber, may contain twice as much 



