EUEAL ENGINEERING. 691 



The silo and its use, C. H. Eckles (Missouri Sta. Bui. 133 (1915), pp. 

 S-19, figs. 5). — This bulletin gives general information regarding silos and 

 silage and briefly describes the stave, concrete, plastered, and tile silo types. 



Hog, calf, sheep, and goat dipping vat, C. A. Gary (Alabama Col. Sta. Bui. 

 185 (1915), pp. 3S-41, fig. 1). — Directions, with a plan, for constructing a 

 concrete dipping v;it are given. 



Poultry house construction, R. E. Jones and L. E. Card (Connecticut 

 Storrs Sta. Bui. 81 (1915), pp. 31-55, figs. i6).— The purpose of this bulletin 

 is to present in concise form some of the essential points to be considered in 

 poultry house construction and to give plans and specifications for some of the 

 houses that have given good results at the station, including the so-called con- 

 test house, the Gilbert farm poultry house, and the colony brooder house. The 

 Connecticut trap nest and dry mash hopper are also described. 



Features of construction that are especially emphasized are proper window 

 space, ventilation, and floors. "All windows or openings should be so located 

 that the sun may reach every part of the interior of the house as many hours 

 fls possible during each day. A safe proportion of glass to use is 1 sq. ft. of 

 glass to each 12 sq. ft. of floor space. ... A curtain made of very thin 

 unbleached muslin will allow fresh air to pass in and the moist, foul air to 

 pass out, thus furnishing plenty of ventilation without drafts These curtains 

 are for use only during cold weather and should always be open during the day 

 except when it is necessary to close them for protection against storm. Win- 

 dows may be placed either in the front or ends as best suits the type of house, 

 but the curtain area should be as near the center of the front as possible in 

 order to prevent the wind blowing in one end of the house, sweeping across the 

 floor, and out at the other end. A safe rule to follow in estimating the curtain 

 area is to allow 1 sq. ft. of cloth to each 6 sq. ft. of floor space. . . . The hens 

 seem to prefer a dirt floor and it provides a natural dust bath at all seasons of 

 the year. ... It is best to put a layer of sand 5 or 6 in. deep over the dirt as 

 this will help to keep the house dry and at the same time will prevent excessive 

 cTust. For a permanent, moisture-proof and rat-proof floor, concrete well insu- 

 lated with a layer of tarred paper is best. All concrete floors should be cov- 

 ered with a layer of sand and a thick layer of litter to make the birds more 

 comfortable and to facilitate cleaning. A board floor can be used to best advan- 

 tage in a portable house that is likely to be moved at any season of the year. 



The main consideration in the selection of material for a poultry house is 

 that the house must be tight on three sides. 



Advisory pamphlet on camp sanitation and housing (San Francisco: 

 Com. Immigr. and Housing Cal., 1914, PP- 54, figs. 43)- — Tliis pamphlet prepared 

 for owners and superintendents of labor camps on hop and other ranches, con- 

 tains specific suggestions pertaining to the housing of men in camps, with par- 

 ticular reference to sanitation. The main points covered are location, size and 

 area of sleeping, cooking, and eating quarters, water supply, garbage and refuse 

 disposal, toilet and bathing facilities, flies and manure, and mosquitoes and 

 malaria. 



Domestic hygiene: The septic tank, R. Soueges (Bui. Sci. Pharmacol., 21 

 (1914), Nos. 8-9, pp. 470-476; 10-12, pp. 510-539, figs. 4).— The first part of this 

 article discusses physical, chemical, and biological methods for the purification 

 of dometic sewage, taking up particularly the biological action v.-hich is gener- 

 ally supposed to occur in septic tanks and filters. The second part deals more 

 Ifarticularly with the disposal of residential sewage and sketches the history of 

 small septic tank systems for this purpose. 



