696 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol. 37 



stone deposits in such a way that their composition expressed in percentages 

 of durable, intermediate, and soft bowlders will bear a direct relation to their 

 percentage of wear as determined in the laboratory and to their durability 

 under traffic conditions. The pebbles in the gravels of the district are classi- 

 fied in a manner that will bring about the same result. The impurities present 

 and the texture or grading of the gravels are studied in order to furnish ad- 

 vance data as to their probable value in concrete and sheet-asphalt work." 



The arrangement of rectangular dairy bams, R. S. Hulce and W. B. 

 Netons (Illinois Sta. Circ. J99 (1917), pp. SSO, figs. 25).— This circular 

 enumerates the factors to be considered in the location, lighting, ventilation, 

 and general arrangement of rectangular dairy barns and gives information 

 regarding principles of construction. 



Wooden silos used in Nebraska, L. W. Chase and I. D. Wood (Univ. Nebr., 

 Col. Agr. Ext. Bui. 40 (1917), pp. 16, figs, ii).— This bulletin relates especially 

 to the construction of wooden silos under Nebraska conditions and Includes 

 diagrammatic illustrations and bills of materials. 



The principles of poultry house construction with general and detailed 

 plans, F. C. Elfokd (Canada Expt. Farnus Bui. 87 (1916), pp. 55, figs. 55).— This 

 bulletin enumerates the principles of construction and gives general and de- 

 tailed plans and specifications for farm and commercial poultry houses, includ- 

 ing their interior arrangement and equipment 



Better conveniences for rural schools, L. E. Scott (Wis. Faiiners' Insts. 

 Bui. SO (1916). pp. 48-55, figs. 7). — Sanitary conditions and conveniences for 

 rural schools, especially with reference to lighting, heating, ventilation, water 

 supply, and sewage disposal, are discussed. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



The marketing of Kansas butter, T. Mackun (Kansas Sta. Bui. il6 (1917), 

 pp. S-79, figs. 42). — This investigation was made for the purpose of determining 

 the methods, processes, and costs of marketing butter made both on farms and 

 In creameries of the State. 



It is concluded that " dairy farming in Kansas has been and continues to be a 

 side line on the average farm. Experience with whole-milk creameries, local 

 private creameries, and skimming-station centralizera proved that they were 

 not adapted to Kansas conditions, and led to the establishment of cream-station 

 direct-shipper centralizers, which are well adapted to the conditions of Kansas 

 dairy farming. Farm butter making has rapidly declined in Kansas owing to 

 the rapid increase in the efficiency of creameries. . . . The average farmer does 

 not live close enough to favorable markets to make and market butter profitably, 

 except in so far as the stores follow the practice of paying the same price for 

 both good and poor butter. . . . 



" Kansas has 78 creameries. Forty -one are centralizers, which make more 

 than 95 per cent of the creamery butter of the State. . . . Centralizers are 

 necessary because there is only one creamery for each 1,053 square miles, and 

 the average farmer lives 19 miles from a creamery. . . . 



" The prices paid for delivered butter fat by centralizers averaged above Elgin 

 prices, and according to prevailing economic conditions, appear to be fair. The 

 fact that bulter-fat prices in Kansas are somewhat lower than in some other 

 States Is because farmers choose to sell four-fifths of their butter fat through 

 cream stations rather than to deliver the cream at their own expense. 



" More and better dairy cows would have the effect of reducing the cost of 

 getting butter fat to the creameries, of lowering the cost of making and market- 

 ing butter by the creameries, and would result in higher net prices and greater 

 profits to the farmer." 



