890 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Swampy lands, R. Dumont {Les Sols Humides. Paris [1900], pp. 183, figs. 

 52). — This book calls attention to tlie extent of waste swampy areas and peat 

 bogs in various countries, especially in France, and endeavors to point out their 

 agricultural value if properly drained, freshened, and fertilized. A general 

 discussion of the vegetation of swarop and peat lands, the physical formation of 

 peat bogs, and the possibilities of putting such lands to practical use in their 

 natural state is followed by a description of methods with costs of draining and 

 freshening s^-amp and waste lands, including drainage and irrigation combined 

 as a means for preventing the rise of injurious salts in the soil. The sanitary 

 value of draining swamp lands is brought out and several examples of profitable 

 land drainage in European countries are noted. The physical and chemical 

 properties and compositions of various kinds of peat soils are discussed, and in 

 connection with the improvement of peat lands the effects of various methods 

 of drainage and various fertilizers are described. The crops appropriate for 

 peat soils are pointed out and several examples of profitable improvement of 

 peat bogs in France are noted. 



It is stated in conclusion that if the chemical composition of swamp soil is 

 relatively good, and the expense of drainage, freshening, and fertilization does 

 not exceed 250 francs per hectare (about $20 per acre), the reclamation and 

 improvement of f-uch land may be profitably undertaken. 



Public road systems of foreig'n countries and of the several States (Wash- 

 ington, D. C: 63. Cong., 1. Sess., 1913, pp. 198; [App.] Good Roads Chart, rev., 

 pp. 3, tables 5). — This is a report prepared under the direction of J. Bourne, jr., 

 and jninted for the use of the Joint Committee on Federal Aid in the Con- 

 struction of Post Roads, which reports on the highway systems of the leading 

 nations of the world and gives a comparative analysis of their most important 

 features. A synopsis of the various state laws relating to road construction 

 by the aid of state appropriations is given, together with reports showing 

 memoranda on the cost of road construction and maintenance in several of the 

 States. 



A memorandum by L. W. Page is included concerning the scope and activity 

 of the Office of Public Roads of this Department. In addition a public roads 

 chart is given under separate cover containing tables of data on the salient 

 features of foreign road systems and those of the several States, and the cost 

 of road construction in the various parts of the country, 



Streng'th of materials, H. E. Murdock {New York and London, 1911, pp. 

 XIV ^308, figs. 151).— The aim of this work is to make intelligible the funda- 

 mental principles of the strength of materials without the formal use of cal- 

 culus. A chapter is included, however, giving the derivation of the elastic 

 curve of beams by the calculus method in which an attempt is made to give the 

 physical conception of the constants of integration rather than to treat them 

 simply as mathematical symbols. A chapter on graphic integration is included 

 and a graphical method of determining the deflection of beams is utilized. 



The remaining chapters are as follows: Materials of construction; direct 

 stresses; direct stresses, applications; riveted joints; beams (external flexural 

 forces) ; beams (internal flexural stresses) ; stresses in such structures as 

 chimneys, dams, walls, and piers; deflection of beams; elastic curve (cantilever 

 and simple beams and beams fixed at both ends) ; elastic curve (overhanging, 

 fixed and supported, continuous beams) ; secondary stresses; columns and 

 struts ; torsion ; repeated stresses, resilience, hysteresis impact ; and centroids 

 and moments of inertia of areas. 



Experiments on the action of various substances on cement mortars, R. K. 

 Meade (Engin. Rec, 68 {1913), No. 1, pp. 20, 21; Engin. News, 10 {1913), No. 1, 

 pp. 21-23; Cement Era, 11 {1913), No. 7, pp. /,0, 4I; Proc. Am. Soc. Test. Mat., 



