1917] RURAL ENGINEERING. 183 



The use of bacterins in the control of fowl cholera, W. B. Mack and E. 

 Records (Nevada Sta. Bui. 85 {1916), pp. 3-29). — Eleven strains of Bacterium 

 avisepticum isolated from outbrealjs of fowl cholera in Nevada \v(>re found to 

 possess a comparatively low degree of virulence for chickens in laboratory tests. 

 " No strain i)eliaved uniformly as to the time required to kill when inoculated 

 into chickens; some birds failed to succumb to inoculation. The virulence for 

 chickens could not be maintained by frequent passages thi'ough either rabbits 

 or chickens ; and no strain could be depended upon to kill by oral administration." 



The bacterin was prepared by growing cultures of B. avisepticum on agar for 

 48 hours, washing with normal salt solution, and diluting to a content of 

 500,000,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter, or by growing in neutral plain bouillon. 

 The organisms were killed by the addition of from 0.5 to 0.9 per cent phenol. 



Three subcutaneous inoculations of the bacterin failed to immunize chickens 

 against subsequent subcutaneous or intramuscular inoculations of the virulent 

 organism. In 15 out of 16 lots of fowls in 14 flocks the use of the bacterin pro- 

 duced sufficient resistance to check promptly outbreaks of fowl cholera, although 

 in one lot there was a recurrence requiring three treatments. The treatmeoit of 

 the other lot resulted in complete failure. 



No apparent difference was observed in the use of homologous or heterologous 

 strains of the organism in the bacterins. The use of a stock bacterin containing 

 several strains appears to be satisfactory. It is indicated that " the value of a 

 protective method must be judged by clinical rather thau by experimental 

 results." 



The cultural characteristics, variation in virulence, and both laboratory and 

 field inoculation data are submitted in tabular form. 



The case of Trichomonas, P. [B.] Hadlet (Amer. Nat., 51 (1917), No. 60-^, pp. 

 209-224, figs. 12). — Substantially noted from another source (E. S. R., 36, 

 p. 483). 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Irrigation enterprise in the United States: Introductory paper, C. E. 

 Gkunsky (Trans. Intemat. Engin. Cong., 1915, Waterways and Irrig., pp. 3^2- 

 370). — This paper outlines the various ways in which irrigation enterprises 

 have been handled and constructed by landowners ; by private owners, usually 

 corporations, for profit; under the Desert Land Act; under the Carey Act; 

 under the U. S. Reclamation Act; and under State irrigation district laws. 

 Irrigation statistics and a bibliography are appended. 



Present condition of irrigation in Argentina, C. Wauters (Trans. Intemat. 

 Engin. Cong., 1915, Waterways and Irrig., pp. 672-6S7). — This paper deals 

 mainly with the legal, administrative, and economic phases of irrigation in 

 Argentina. 



Irrigation in Spain: Distribution systems, methods, and appliances, J. C. 

 Stevens (Trans. Intemat. Engin. Cong., 1915, Watertvays and Irrig., pp. 6^3- 

 656, figs. 4)- — This is a brief general description of distribution systems, 

 methods, and appliances. 



Irrigation in Spain: Begulations controlling the use of water, metering 

 water for irrigation, and methods of charging, J. C. Stevens (Trans. Inter- 

 nat. Engin. Cong., 1915, Watertvays and Irrig., pp. 657-671). — This paper deals 

 with the regulations controlling the use of water, metering water for irrigation, 

 and methods of charging. 



Italian irrigation, L. Luiggi (Trans. Intemat. Engin. Cong., 1915, M^ater- 

 ways and Irrig.. pp. 530-582, figs. 35). — The author, in dealing with irrigation 

 in Italy, concludes that " irrigation is decidedly most beneficial to the farmer. 



