316 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In tho southern half of the iieiunsnla the principal iiiMxinimn ofcurs in October 

 and secondary maxima in January and April, 



The fertilizing value of rain and snow, F. T. Shutt (Canada Expt. Farms 

 /?/)/,s'. I'.KHi. lip. Ji)0-ni2). — This is a continuation of investigations referred to 

 in the last report of the station (E. S. K.. 21, p. 308) and includes data regard- 

 inj; the amount and nitrojien content of precipitation durinj: tlie year ended 

 P>bruary 2S, litOi), 



It is shown that the rain and snow at Ottawa during' this period amounted to 

 32,U3 in. of water containing S.3(J4 lbs. per acre of nitrogen as comi)ared with 

 37.35 in. of precipitation containing 4.323 lbs. of nitrogen per acre the previous 

 year. Of the total amount of nitrogen 84 per cent was in the form of free and 

 alburninoid ammonia, and 16 per cent as nitrates and nitrites. It is estimated 

 that 0<) per cent of the nitrogen was furnished by the rain. 



The rain falling in September. October, and November was particularly rich 

 in ammonia. This is attributed to the fact that a very severe drought prevailed 

 during August, September, and the first 3 weeeks of October, and to the bush 

 fires which prevailed during this period. Another cause of irregularity in the 

 nitrogen content of rain and snow was the high winds that prevailed from time 

 to time immediately before or during the early part of a rain, when the surface 

 soil was dry. 



"As such usually occur after a period of longer or shorter drought, when the 

 surface of the cultivated fields is dry and loose, the air is filled with particles 

 of organic matter, manure, and debris of various kinds. Naturally the rain 

 falling through such an atmosphere has its nitrogen content very greatly in- 

 creased. Unfortunately there seems to be no plan or method whereby this 

 source of error can be eliminated or avoided, and it is quite possible that a 

 part of the larger amount of nitrogen, recorded for the past year, is due to the 

 greater frequency of such winds during periods of dryness last summer," 



The average composition of the snow was very nearly the same as that of the 

 preceding winter. 



Water systems, L, AV. Chase (Ann. Rpt. Nebr. Bd. Agr., 1909, pp. 353-362).— 

 The sources of water supply used in Nebraska are described and the advantage 

 and methods of securing betti-r water systems in rural homes are discussed. 



Well waters from farm homesteads, F. T. Shtjtt {Canada Ejpt. Farms 

 Rpts. 1909, J)]}. 193-197 ).^'rhe results of examinations of 96 samples of water 

 from different parts of Canada are reported. Of these, 26 w-ere adjudged as 

 pure and wholesome, 32 as suspicious and probably dangerous, 26 as seriously 

 polluted, and 12 as saline. 



In presenting these results the author, as in previous years, lays special 

 emphasis upon " the importance of pure water and the danger that lurks in 

 the barnyui'd well." It is stated as a result of 20 years' investigation that it 

 is q\]ite exceptional to find a water from a shallow well free from pollution. 



The Charlottenburg sewage field and its industrial importance, Geissler 

 (Crndts. Ingen., 32 (1909), No. J,.',, pp. 738-742).— This farm is described and 

 its cost of operation and efficiency as compared wuth other sewage farms in 

 Germany are discussed. 



Of the total area of about 2,181 acres included in this farm, 659 acres are 

 under irrigation. The average daily amount of sewage used on this area during 

 periods when no rain falls is 30,000 cubic meters. This is increased to 60,000 

 cubic meters at times of heavy rainfall. In 1907, 11,170,00 cubic meters 

 of sewage W'as disposed of. The raw sew-age as applied contains on an 

 average per liter 750 mg. of suspended matter, 1,330 mg. of dissolved matter, 

 60.5 mg. of nitrogen of which 50.2 mg. is organic nitrogen and 10.3 mg. ammo- 

 niacal nitrogen, and 270 mg. of chloriu. The potassium permanganate con- 



