816 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



review of recent progress in the design, manufacture, and use of various farm 

 machines, with special reference to the implement industry in Belgium. 



Ancient Egyptian farm implements, A. De Ceris (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 10 

 (1905), No. 40, pp. 433-436, figs. 12). — A description of the four-man plow and other 

 implements found in inscriptions, with notes on their manner of use. 



Recent improvements in hay making- (Canad. Bnpl. and Vehicle Trade, 12 

 (1906), No. 3, pp. 28, 29). — The great importance of the quick curing of hay has 

 encouraged the improvement of hay tedders, the most recent of which is the side- 

 delivery rake. 



"These machines are put into the hay immediately after it is mowed, the primary 

 object being to uncover and heat a section of the meadow surface as the best means 

 available in returning the hay to that section of forcing the curing by bottom heat, 

 as well as by the incidental stirring. The rows can be re-turned at any time after- 

 ward on to the hot surface alongside, the repeated soft action of the machine doing 

 no injury." 



The corrosion of fence wire, A. S. Cushman ( U. S. Bept. Agr., Farmers' Bid. 239, 

 pp. 31). — This bulletin is published as an answer to numerous complaints from farmers 

 of the rapid rusting of galvanized fence wire. 



The manufacture of iron and mild steel and the methods used in drawing and gal- 

 vanizing wire are described, with special reference to the use of manganese, which is 

 shown to be the possible cause of deterioration, owing to its influence on electrolytic 

 action. It is admitted, however, that further tests are necessary to establish this 

 theory. Besides decreasing the percentage of manganese it is proposed to ground 

 the wires at intervals, so as to reduce electrolysis. A heavier coating of zinc, such as 

 is used on telephone wires, is thought to be worth trying, but probably too expensive. 



Teaching" agricultural engineering in land-grant colleges, C. J. Zixtheo 

 (Engirt. News, 54 (1905), No. 25, pp. 658-662). — The enormous increase in the use of 

 farm machinery and in its cost as compared to other items of agricultural expense has 

 contributed to make the study of farm machinery an important branch of instruction 

 in agricultural colleges. 



Although the schools of European countries are in the lead in agricultural engineer- 

 ing, the agricultural colleges in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa now 

 offer more or less complete courses of a very practical sort, and several other colleges 

 are organizing the same sort of instruction. The writer includes under agricultural 

 engineering drainage, irrigation, roads, farm motors, and farm buildings as well as 

 machinerv. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Farming as a business enterprise, E. C. Parker (Amer.Mo. Ber. of Reviews, 33 

 (1906), No. 192, pp. 62-67). — This article emphasizes the growing importance of 

 business methods on the farm, and outlines the investigations which are being carried 

 on by the Minnesota Station, in cooperation with this Department, to determine the 

 cost of producing field crops and live-stock products under farm conditions in 

 Minnesota. 



"Methods of keeping 'farm accounts' in a simple, practical manner are being 

 worked out from the experience gathered," and it is hoped that a system of account- 

 ing may be devised which will enable the farmer to choose rationally from the 

 various crops and the various kinds of live stock which may be produced upon his 

 farm, and also to be able to compare the relative profitableness of the different 

 methods of carrying out the operations of the farm. 



The poor and the land, H. R. Haggard (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1905, 

 pp. XL1 -f- 157, pis. 6). — This is a report on the agricultural colonies established by the 

 Salvation Army in the United States and at Hadleigh, England. Fort Romie, in 

 California, and Fort Amity, in Colorado, are described and discussed at considerable 

 length. The purpose of these colonies is the removal of poor people from the cities 



