RURAL ENGINEERING. 389 



acre of about $3.70. These results are deemed not at all discouraging when the 

 price of fuel and the unfavorable conditions of soil and weather are considered. 



The advantages stated for this motor plow are that it is not affected by 

 weather or weeds and saves high-priced labor. It is stated, however, that con- 

 siderable changes must be made in the apparatus before satisfactory results 

 can be obtained in the seeding and cultivation of cotton Boils. 



A new steam plow dynamometer, J. lti:zi:K (.1////. Landw. Lchrkanz. K. K. 

 HocJisch. BodcnJcuL Wicn, 1 {1!U3), A'o. 3, pp. 393-/,06, pJ. 1). — A new dyna- 

 mometer for measuring the tractive effort of steam tractors is described which 

 consists essentially of an oil-filled cylinder connected to the plow or other load 

 and a piston in the cylinder connected to the drawbar of the tractor. The re- 

 sulting oil pressure in the cylinder is transmitted to a revolving drum above, 

 which registers the distance travelal and the corresponding tractive effort. 



Service tests of this dynamometer and comparisons with other types serve to 

 show its accuracy in recording minute variations in the tractive effort. It has 

 the disadvantage, however, that the oil is likely to leak out of the cylinder, and 

 must be watched in this respect. 



Stock watering" devices in lowland pastures, J. Heisig (Ztschr. Moorkultur 

 u. Torfvericcrt., 11 (1013), ]Vo. 3, pp. 87-93, figs. ^).— Cheap and serviceable 

 methods of watering stock in lowland pastures are described, including struc- 

 tures for storing water from wells, brooks, and springs. 



Silos, construction and service, M. L. Ki^^g (St. Paul, Minn., 1913, pp. 100, 

 figs. 31). — ^This book takes up the fundamentals of silage preservation, describes 

 different types of wood and masonry silos, and explains the details and the 

 construction of what are considered the more important tji^es, under the follow- 

 ing chapters: Early development, fundamentals of silage preservation, wood 

 silos, masonry silos, planning the silo, erection of stave silos, monolithic con- 

 crete silos, the Iowa system of building block silos, safe strength of materials, 

 and buying and contracting for silos. 



A study of the hog" house question, Probst (Illus. Landw. Ztg., 33 {1913), 

 No. 59, pp. 539-oJil, figs. 6). — This article deals wnth the design of hog houses, 

 emphasizing, in addition to cost, warmth, dryness, ventilation, and sunlight as 

 the essential considerations. 



Studies in poultry house construction, H. R. Lewis and A. L. Clark {Neio 

 Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1912, pp. 10Jf-12Jf, pis. 10, figs. 7.— This article reports studies 

 of 5 types of poultry houses erected at the station plant during the fall and 

 winter of 1911-12, and gives data in regard to cost and environmental condi- 

 tions as they existed during the winter, including studies of temi^erature and 

 moisture conditions. 



The results of these studies point to the following conclusions: "(1) A house 

 with a large area of glass and no muslin has a high moisture content and low 

 temperature, accompanied with rapid changes. (2) An extreme open front 

 house furnishes ideal conditions, providing the birds are protected from rain, 

 snow, and drafts. (3) A house, the front of which contains some muslin and 

 glass, is a very eflBicient type. ... (4) Hollow tile construction makes a very 

 desirable house, but it is doubtful whether at the present prices of tile and 

 mason labor the resulting increased cost warrants its use. (5) A roosting 

 closet with double walls is desirable in shed roof laying houses. (6) The pro- 

 viding of ample means of properly ventilating shed roof, paper covered houses 

 adds greatly in reducing temperature during spring and summer. (7) Tongued 

 and gi'ooved boards for the outside walls when covered with a layer of building 

 luiper are reasonable in cost and supi)ly in a great measure the nonradiatiag 

 qualities of a double wood wall." 



