792 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fected herd. An accouut is given of the so-called Bang method as carried out 

 in Denmark and previously noted (E. S. R., 9, p. 991; 18, p. 81). In view of 

 American experience, particular importance attaches to the requirement that 

 only milk and buttermilk heated to a temperature of 80° C. can be returned 

 from dairies to serve as food for cattle and pigs, and only such as is proved 

 to have been heated to at least this temperature can be imported. 



The blood of the horse, J. Sabrazes, L. Muratet, and P. Durroux {Covipt. 

 Rend. 8oc. Biol. [Paris}, 65 (1908), No. 26, pp. 169-173; Gas. 8ci. MM. Bor- 

 deaux, 29 (1908), Nos. 28, pp. 325-330; 29, pp. 339, 3-^0).— These contributions 

 include a reviev^^ of the literature and the report of investigations made by the 

 authors. Studies were made of the density, corpuscular resistance, coagulation, 

 etc., of blood from a large number of horses. The leucocytes were given par- 

 ticular attention and their variation under varying conditions including the 

 influence of age, effect of digestion, management, fatigue, etc., was determined. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Highway engineering, C. E, Morrison {Neic York, 1908, pp. Vl'-hSlo, figs. 

 60). — This is intended for use as a text-book for the author's classes in 

 Columbia University, and its purpose is stated to be " to emphasize the basic 

 principles which are essential to good highways." The first chapter is devoted 

 to an analysis of road resistance and the results of tests to determine it. There 

 is about an equal amount of space devoted to country roads and city streets. 

 Specifications form a considerable part of the text, those of New Jersey being 

 given for country roads, those recommended by the National Paving Brick 

 Manufacturers' Association for brick pavements, and those of the City of New 

 York for other city pavements. 



A new system of road making (tiurveyor, 35 (1909), No. 885, p. 12, figs. 3). — 

 A new system which has just been introduced in England is described. This 

 comprises a concave subgrade of broken stone and a convex surface having a 

 metal track for automobiles and traction engines laid in the center of the 

 waterproof road material, and the sides of the road being paved with macadam 

 for ordinary traffic. It is claimed that the advantages gained from its long life 

 will offset the initial high cost of construction. 



Effect of traction engine and heavy motor traflic upon road foundations, 

 R. J. Thomas (Surveyor, 3', (1908), No. 878, pp. ^99-501).— This is one of the 

 papers presented to the First International Road Congress at Paris. 



The author's observations on English country roads show that there is a con- 

 cave cross section of the subsoil wherever the road has been subjected to heavy 

 motor traffic. It is pointed out that the crossbars on the driving wheels are 

 largely responsible for this condition, because of concentrating the weight on a 

 small area with a consequent large unit pressure on the foundation. Concen- 

 tration of traffic along the center of the road is also a serious factor in injuring 

 the roadbed, largely because the weight of the engine is transmitted to the road 

 by the inner edge of the broad tire when the surface is crowned. 



Denatured alcohol in France, F. H. Mason (Daili/ Consular and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. S.], 1908, No. .33-',3, pp. 1, 2).— This article contains statistics of the total 

 production, the sources of distillation, and the various uses to which the supply 

 of denatured alcohol has been put in France. It is noted that there is a large 

 increase in consumption, due to its use for heating and lighting and for the 

 manufacture of ether and explosives. In spite of this increase it is reported 

 that the use of alcohol for motors has not attained its anticipated importance 

 because of the high cost of denaturing material, the tendency to corrode the 

 interior of cylinders, and the failure to explode with sufficient rapidity for au- 

 tomobile purposes. 



