920 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A note by M. Ringelmann on the same experiments is found in Jour. Agr. 

 Prat., 11. ser., l<> (1905), No. 4s. pp. 686-688. 



New farm machinery, B. Martiny (Fiihling's Landw. ZU/.. 55 (1906). Xo. 2, 

 pp. 68-72, figs. 3). — Two straw cutters are described, one having a number vof 

 star-shaped knives on the same shaft, which project upward through slits in 

 the bottom of a long hopper when the shaft revolves. The other has two heavy 

 knives which revolve on one spindle and alternately cut the straw fed through 

 an ordinary chute. 



Lucerne cultivators (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope. 28 (1906). Xo. 1. pp. ^9-51, 

 f i;/ . Si 4). — Three types of cultivators for alfalfa are described. One is provided 

 with rotary pickers mounted on a large pair of wheels, and is intended for irri- 

 gated land: another is the common wheel cultivator, with special lucerne teeth; 

 the third consists of a heavy spiked roller. 



Practical cold storage, M. Cooper (Chicago: XicK-erson <(• Collins Co., 1905, 

 j>lt. 516. fins. 218). — As stated in the preface, "this book is intended to cover 

 the field of applied refrigeration with the exception of ice making, ice machines, 

 and the technical and theoretical side of the mechanical production of refrigera- 

 tion." and is a comprehensive treatise on the construction and management of 

 cold-storage plants of all kinds. 



The four objects of refrigeration are stated to be to prevent the premature 

 decay of perishable products, to lengthen the period of consumption -and thus 

 greatly increase production, to enable the owner to market his products at will, 

 and to make possible transportation in good condition from point of production 

 to point of consumption irrespective of distance. The author takes up in detail 

 the subjects of insulation, air circulation, ventilation, and the control of 

 humidity in plants using artificial methods of refrigeration. He next deals with 

 the storage of particular products in order of their importance, including eggs, 

 butter, cheese, general creamery and dairy refrigeration, fruit, fish, fabrics, and 

 furs. 



The shipping of meat and other perishable products, and ice refrigeration in 

 general are thoroughly treated, and methods of harvesting, handling, and stor- 

 ing ice. and approved methods of building ice houses of all sizes are fully 

 described. The book is full of figures and drawings showing details of con- 

 struction. A number of tables are included, showing the relative insulating 

 qualities of various materials, etc., and a table of cold storage and freezing 

 temperatures for various products is appended. 



The extremely recent development of refrigeration is shown by the statement 

 that scarcely any of the printed matter published earlier than 1803 was found 

 of use in writing this book. The cold storage of furs and fabrics is a recent 

 development which is likely to prove an important use of refrigeration. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Annual report on the distribution of grants for agricultural education 

 and research (Bd. Agr. and Fisheries [London]. Ann. Rpt. Agr. Ed. and 

 Research, 1904-5, pp. X 4- 209).— This consists of a general report on the work 

 of the year, a list of grants awarded in 1904-5, and 4 appendixes: (1) Reports 

 on institutions receiving grants, (2) education in rural districts — school gardens, 

 (3) summary of the agricultural instruction provided by county councils in 

 England and Wales in the year 1904-5, and (4) statement showing the expendi- 

 ture of county councils in England and Wales upon agricultural instruction in 

 the years 1003-4 and 1004-5. 



In the general report attention is called to an increase of $4.S56 in the amount 

 given to local institutions in aid of agricultural education. One-half of this sum 



