AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 195 



A study of some bad wines, E. Kayskk and G. Bakba (Ann. Sci. Agron., 1S9S, I, 

 No. 1, pp. 25-39). 



Castor oil manufacture (Producers' Gaz. and Settler*' Record [Western Australia], 

 5 (1S0S), No. 2, p. 127). — A short note on the method of extracting the oil. 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



Progress in timber physics, B. E. Fernow (['. 8. Dept. Agr., 

 Division of Forestry Gire. 18, j>p 20, dgms. 11, tables 10). — The infiu- 

 eiice of size on test results and distribution of moisture as factors in 

 timber physics are reported upon at some length. The circular also 

 contains some notes by S. T. Xeely on the " End wise-compression 

 strength to breaking load of beams.'' The most important conclusions 

 given in the circular are as follows : 



"A difference in strength values derived from a few specimens of the same kind 

 of wood, up to 10 per cent for coniferous wood and to 15 per cent for hard woods. 

 can not be considered a difference of practical importance; such differences can not 

 be relied upon as furnishing a criterion of the quality of the material. 



"The size of the test piece does not in itself influence strength values (except in 

 compression endwise when the size is less than a cube). 



" Small test pieces judiciously selected furnish a better statement of average values 

 of a species than tests on large beams and columns in small numbers. 



" A large series of tests on small pieces will give practically the same result as 

 such a series on large beams and columns; hence, there is no need of finding a coeffi- 

 cient with which to relate the results of the former to construction members. 



"The influence of moisture on strength appears even greater than the former tests 

 and statements from this Division have indicated." 



The most important discovery of all is that worked out by S. T. JSTeely, 

 as follows: 



"The strength of beams at elastic limit is equal to the strength of the material in 

 compression, and the strength of beams at rupture can, it appears, be directly calcu- 

 lated from the compression strength ; the relation of compression strength to the 

 breaking load of a beam is capable of mathematical expression." 



Dynamometer tests on farm wagons, C. D. Smith {Michigan Sta. 

 Rpt. 1806, p. 110). — k 'On good roads the draft of wide and narrow tired 

 wagons was about equal. On plowed land a narrow tired wagon pulled 

 45 per cent harder than one with wide tires; on a road with sand 2 in. 

 deep, 25 per cent harder; and on sod, 16 per cent harder. A wagon 

 not greased pulled 18 per cent harder than one greased." 



Shrinkage of cord wood, C. D. Smith (Michigan Sta. Ept. 1896, pp. 

 110, 111). — Five cords of freshly cut, 18-in. green beech wood weighed 

 14,336 lbs. on February 7. The wood was piled out of doors, and on 

 October 9 it weighed 7,118 lbs. "Twenty cords of 18-in. slab wood 

 split into stove wood gained 10 per cent in bulk in the operation." 



Drainage by means of fascines, R. Schmoldt (Dent. Landw. 1'resse. 

 No. 24, p. 262). 



Windmills, M. Ringelmann (Jour. Ayr. rrat., 62 (1898), T. No. 21, pp. 761, 762). 



Irrigation on our farm, R. Hittinger (Agr. of Massachusetts, 1897, pp. lit, 142, 

 fig.l). — An account is given of the irrigation of a farm and greenhouses from two 

 artesian wells, the water being raised by a windmill and a steam pump and applied 

 through pipes and revolving sprinklers. 



