AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 251 



Mannitic fermentation of >Arines in Sicily, G. Basile (StaS. Spcr. Agr. Hal., 26 

 {1894), Xo. ■'>, pp. 451-497). — A study of the conditions under which it occurs, with 

 analyses of wines. 



The use of selected yeasts in -wine -making-, C. Fabie (Compt. Rend., 119 

 (1S94), Xo. i>, pp. 373-375). — These yeasts produce fine wines only when used iu 

 must prepared from grapes thoroughly acclimated iu the region from which the 

 yeasts are derived. 



The oxidation of beer wort, P. Petit (Compt. Rend., 119 {1894), No. 5, pp. 342, 

 343). 



Cost of sugar production in British Guiana {Sugar Cane, 1894, pp. 435-437). 



Indian tanning materials, D. Hooi'eh (Amcr. Jour. Pharin., 24 {1894), Xo. 8, pp. 

 377). — Tlie percentages of tannin in 63 tanning plants are given. 



Progress in tanning and in tanning materials, J. Passleu {Clwin. Zfg., IS {1894), 

 No. 65, pp. 1J40-1:J45). 



Improvements in the sulphuric acid industry, P. de Boissiex {Bui. Soc. Chem. 

 Paris, 11-12 {1894), No. 14, pp. 726-729, Jigs. 2). — A discussion of Barbier's apparatus. 



Central American rubber {Roy. Bat. Gard. Trinidad, Misc. Bnl. Xo. 23. pp. 282- 

 287). — Descriptive notes and popular information are given regarding the Central 

 American rubber, Castilloa elastica. 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING. 



Amount of water to be used in irrigation, J. W. Sanborn ( Utah 

 Sta. Bid. 29., pp. 1-13). — Experiments with grain, commenced in ISDOiind 

 reported on in Bulletin L*4 of the station (E. S. li.,o, p, 414:), were contin- 

 ued in 1898 on wheat, and for comparison similar experiments on tim- 

 othy were also carried out. On the wheat water was applied at rates 

 sufficient to saturate the soil to depths of 4, 3.J, 2^, -J, 1^, and f ft., and on 

 timothy at the first five of these rates. The data tabulated and dis- 

 cussed include the chemical composition of the water applied and the 

 drainage collected in each case; the temperature of the soil at depths 

 of 1, 2, and 3 in., and of the air above the soil at heights of 3, C, and 

 12 in.; the moisture content o.f the soil at depths of 2 and 8 in. from 4 

 to 10 days after irrigation, and the yield of crops. The results are 

 thus summarized: 



"(1) The plants on soil saturated to the depth of \it ft. gave a better crop of grain 

 than those on soil receiving a greater or less amount of water. 



"(2) For timothy, the plats saturated 2h ft. deep gave the best results. 



"(3) Soils remove most of the solids from water applied beyond soil saturation. 



"(4) The water that does escape from soils by leaching is richer in the elements 

 of fertility than before it entered, the amount so escaping, however, being so small 

 thatthe total contains but a fractiou of the solids applied. 



"(5) Where water applied is small in amount, the temperature grows higher and 

 higher on decreasing amounts. 



"(6) Water applied to our gravelly soils appears to evaporate inside of 12 days." 



Mulching, .J. W. Sa^ borx ( ?7te7i Sta. Bui. 31, pp. 7-i5).— The results of exper- 

 iments on potatoes of mulching irrigated and uuirrigated plats to ascertain the value 

 of mulches for reducing the amount of irrigation required are reported in tables. On 

 account of the fact that the "experiment was laid out on a section where the rock 

 subsoil comes near the surface, the results have been disappointing, and in fact 

 practically valueless." 



