784 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



This paper deals with tlie morphology of a 'new species, which is compared with 

 the closely allied forms previously described. 



Bemarks on the diseases of foxes, I. E. Ckoken (Amer. Jour. Vet. Med., 11 

 (1916), No. 3, pp. 195-191). — A brief discussion of diseases of foxes, based upon 

 the author's experience in Prince Edward Island where fox farming is carried 

 on on a very large scale. 



Practical application of the agglutination test, R. Jones {Jour. Amcr. 

 Assoc. Insfr. and Invest. Fonltry Hush., 2 (1915), Xo. 3, pp. 22, £.?).— The practi- 

 cal application of this test on commercial farms in Connecticut was taken up in 

 June, 1914, and continued until April, 1915, during which time 70 farms in 40 

 different cities and towns were visited and 14.009 birds tested. 



The average infection for all flocks was 10 per cent, but the range was very 

 great, running from none in the case of a few flocks to 5G.3 per cent in the 

 worst flock. That the lowest percentage of infection was found in the Leg- 

 horns is accounted for only by the natural resistance due to the activity and 

 vitality of the breed. The hatchability of eggs and mortality of chicks seems 

 to depend upon the size and vitality of the birds. 



See also a previous note by F. S. Jones (E. S. R., 28, p. 8S7). 



Suggestions to poultrymen concerning chicken pox, J. R. Beach (Ca7t- 

 fornki Sta. Circ. l.',5 (1915), pp. 8, figs. J).— This circular deals particularly 

 with preventive vaccination, with an announcement concerning the sale of 

 vaccine by the university. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Irrigation in the United States, R. I*. Tkki.e (Xcw York and LomJon: D. 

 Applcton tC- Co., 1915, pp. iA'4-2.5J, figs. 2).— This book presents a nontechnical 

 discussion of the legal, economic, and financial aspects of irrigation in the west- 

 ern United States, with chapters on the field for irrigation in the United States, 

 historical information, climatic conditions in the arid region, water supply, 

 crops, legislation relating to irrigation, irrigation investments, organization and 

 operation of irrigation enterprises, and the present situation and future of irri- 

 gation in the United States. 



The greater part of the book is devoted to a discussion of federal and state 

 legislation relating to irrigation, irrigation investments, and organization and 

 operation of irrigation enterprises. In these chapters the author has attempted 

 to set forth, for the prospective investor in irrigated lands, water rights, irri- 

 gation bonds, stocks, etc., the exact nature of what is being offered to investors, 

 particularly as to the security behind such investments. 



The author expresses his belief in the feasil)ility of irrigation and in tlie pos- 

 sibilities of the West, but he points out that the interests of the "West can not be 

 advanced permanently by overstating the returns which are to be secured from 

 irrigated lands or from securities behind irrigation investments. It is pointed 

 out further that to-day large areas of land exi.st under projects either com- 

 pleted or under construction not yet under cultivation and irrigation, and with no 

 effective demand for this land. "As it stands to-day. few, if any, of such enter- 

 prises, public or private, are paying any return on the capital invested. The 

 great need of the We.st now is the utilization of the works already built, not 

 more works. . . . Past experience and the present situation seem to indicate 

 that irrigated lands can not be expected to repay directly the cost of irrigation 

 works, with interest, as is ordinarily expected of investments generally. Past 

 experience demonstrates, however, that if the loss to original investors is over- 

 looked, irrigation has been a decided success." 



