431 
To  make  a good  polish,  take  about  six  ounces  of  shellac  and 
add  one  pint  of  wood  alcohol ; great  exactness  in  proportions  is 
not  necessary.  Shellac  dissolves  gradually  and  the  process  is 
hastened  by  shaking,  but  heat  is  not  necessary.  White  polish  is 
made  with  bleached  shellac,  common  polish  with  orange  shellac. 
Manufacturers  of  polish  assert  that  in  addition  to  shellac,  certain 
gums  improve  the  quality  of  the  polish  when  properly  used,  but 
shellac  is  the  principal  ingredient  in  nearly  all  polishes.  Gum 
benzoin  and  alcohol  make  a very  good  polish,  but  it  is  not  gener- 
ally used. 
NEW  FARMERS’  BULLETINS. 
Drainage  of  Irrigated  Lands.  By  Charles  F.  Brown,  Drainage 
Engineer,  Office  of  Experiment  Stations.  Pp.  52,  figs.  19. 
(Farmers’  Bulletin  371.) 
This  bulletin  gives  details  of  experiments  in  draining  irrigated  lands 
in  several  localities  in  Utah,  with  costs,  results,  etc.,  and  supplements 
Farmers’  Bulletin  187,  entitled  Drainage  of  Farm  Lands. 
Soy  Beans.  B)y  C.  V.  Piper,  Agrostologist  in  Charge,  and  H.  T. 
Nielson,  Scientific  Assistant,  Forage  Crop  Investigations, 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry.  Pp.  28,  figs.  6.  (Farmers’ 
Bulletin  372.) 
This  bulletin  has  been  prepared  to  supersede  Farmers’  Bulletin  58  on 
the  same  subject,  and  contains  directions  for  the  cultivation  of  the  soy 
bean  for  hay,  pasturage,  ensilage,  and  in  mixtures  with  other  plants.  Its 
possible  value  as  a crop  in  the  cotton  belt  and  its  use  as  a feed  for  sheep, 
dairy  cows,  and  hogs  are  emphasized. 
Experiment  Station  Work,  LIII.  (Compiled  from  the  publica- 
tions of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Stations.)  Pp.  32,  figs.  5. 
(Farmers’  Bulletin  374.) 
Contents:  Inoculation  and  lime  for  alfalfa;  Citrus  culture  in  southern 
Texas;  Pruning  rotundifolia  grapes;  Native  hays  of  arid  regions;  Ber- 
muda grass;  Short  vs.  long  feeding  of  beet  cattle;  Contagious  abortion  of 
cattle;  Preventing  losses  at  lambing  time;  Winter  lambs  for  the  Pacific 
coast  market;  Feeding  work  horses;  Colony  houses  for  poultry;  Food  of 
the  crow  blackbird;  Flour  for  baking-powder  biscuits. 
PRESIDENT  TAFT  AND  RECLAMATION. 
( Telegram  to  the 1 Notional  Irrigation  Congress , Spokane.) 
“I  greatly  regret  that  I am  not  able  to  be  present  to  hear  the 
discussions  and  get  the  benefit  of  your  deliberations.  I have  the 
deepest  sympathy  with  the  general  objects  of  the  National  Irri- 
gation Congress  and  you  can  count  on  my  earnest  endeavors  to 
further  the  cause  of  reclamation  by  irrigation  in  every  part  of  the 
country  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federal  Government.” 
