810 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The book deals with the subject of weather forecasting largely from the point 

 of view of experimental physics. The difficulty of such a presentation of the 

 subject on account of the lack of uniformity in units of measurement commonly 

 in use is pointed out. and the author describes and suggests the use of a modified 

 C. G. S. system of meteorological units, although these are not used in the book. 



The first chapter explains and illustrates the construction of synoptic charts 

 and their use in forecasting. Then follow discussions of the relation of wind 

 to pressure, Abercromby's views of the order of weather changes in a cyclone, 

 types of weather, and local weather in relation to weather types. 



The next 3 chapters deal, respectively, with physical processes of weather, 

 life history of surface air currents, and the minor fluctuations of pressure, 

 embodying more particularly results of investigations made by the author and 

 his associates. The succeeding chapters deal " with si^ecial departments of the 

 work of forecasting, such as gales and storm warnings, anticyclonic weather, 

 land and sea fogs, night frosts, colliery warnings, and forecasts for aeronauts. 



" These are followed by a consideration of recent developments of the prac- 

 tice of forecasting by the use of weather charts as exhibited by the work of 

 Ekholm upon isallobaric charts and that of Guilbert on the approach" of depres- 

 sions and local deviations from the ' normal ' wind. A chapter has been devoted 

 to statistical methods for long-period and seasonal forecasts." 



The final chapter discusses the practical utility of the system of weather 

 forecasting in use in the British Meteorological Office. In this chapter stress is 

 laid upon the necessity for trained intelligence and more knowledge of meteor- 

 ology on the part of the public in order that the greatest benefit may be derived 

 from weather forecasts. Particular attention is also called to the efforts of 

 the meteorological office to improve and increase the use of forecasts of special 

 value to agriculture — the so-called harvest forecasts. 



The econoniic climatology of the coffee district of Sao Paulo, Brazil, R. 

 Dec. Ward (Bui. Amer. Geogr. Soc, J^S {1911), No. 6, pp. Jt28-U5, fig. 1).— 

 This district is described, and it is stated that it is singularly favorably situated 

 with regard to climate, having abundant and well-distributed rains in summer 

 during the growing season of the coffee and dry weather in winter during the 

 harvesting and curing of the product. On account of the relatively high alti- 

 tude the temperatures are not high enough to make shading of the young 

 coffee plants necessary, and while damaging frosts occur, on the average, 

 every 5 or 6 years the danger from this source is said to have been greatly 

 exaggerated. 



It is stated that the district " comes within Koppen's * subtropical belt of 

 the temperate zone,' whose characteristics are that 4 to 11 months are ' hot ' 

 (mean temperature over 68°) and 1 to 8 months are ' temperate' (50 to 68°). 

 The mean annual temperatures average between 65 and 70°. January is 

 usually the warmest month and June the coolest. The ranges, annual, monthly, 

 and diurnal, as a rule, increase inland. The mean annual ranges in the coffee 

 country average from 12 to 15°. In summer the thermometer may rise to near, 

 or even above, 1(X)°. The extremes of summer heat are brought by northwest- 

 erly winds from the interior, which are also extremely disagreeable." 



The annual rainfall of the district averages between about 45 and 60 in., 

 being heaviest on the coast (about 90 in.) and lower (about 50 in.) at the 

 higher interior points. 



The relation of the climatic conditions to the culture of coffee is discussed. 

 The planting of shade among the older plants is the only means employed for 

 protection against excessive heat or frost. 



Meteorological observations at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, J. E. Osteander and R. N. Hallowell {Massachusetts Sta, Met. 



