36 ANNUAL REPORTS OV DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the department for use in connection with the construction of any 

 of the provisions contained in such statutes. 



At the close of June 30, 1912, the office had in preparation a re- 

 vision of the compilation entitled "Laws Applicable to the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture," the first edition of which was published in 

 1908, and embraced a compilation of all statutes, in effect at that 

 time, applicable to the Department of Agriculture. There was also 

 in preparation an appendix to the Use Book of the Forest Service 

 embracing all of the general laws, reference to which is found neces- 

 sary in the daily administration of the National Forests. 



WEATHER BUREAU. 

 INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH. 



A series of practically continuous explorations of the upper at- 

 mosphere extending over the last five years has been concluded at 

 the Mount Weather Observatory with highly satisfactory results. 

 It has been shown beyond question that the meteorological condi- 

 tions disclosed by kite flights are often susceptible of utilization in 

 the preparation of weather forecasts. The data for the five-year 

 series of observations are in course of summarization and will soon 

 be in suitable form for further study. A report on the sounding- 

 balloon ascensions made in the Western States in 1909, 1910, and 

 1911 has also been completed and published in the Mount Weather 

 Bulletin. On the whole, this report forms the most important con- 

 tribution to the meteorology of the higher atmosphere thus far made 

 in this country. The atmospheric conditions at extremely high 

 levels as disclosed by the balloon flights are not wholly in accord 

 with the conditions that have been found to exist at similar levels 

 over continental Europe. It is evident that further explorations of 

 this character will be necessary in the United States to confirm the 

 results arrived at in the report mentioned. 



Studies of temperature conditions on mountain tops and in adja- 

 cent valleys have been continued at Mount Weather and elsewhere 

 and the conclusions relating thereto published in the Mount Weather 

 Bulletin. The results obtained have tended to fix the relation be- 

 tween prevailing weather conditions and the character and degree 

 of temperature changes that may be expected to follow in the val- 

 .leys below. These studies have an important bearing on the ques- 

 tion of air drainage and, in their practical application, to the pro- 

 tection of fruit in the valleys and on mountain slopes given over to 

 its production. 



FORECASTS AND AVARNINGS. 



The forecasts and warnings issued by the Weather Bureau for all 

 interests liable to be affected by coming weather conditions were veri- 



