Meteorology — wates. 1*7 



The authors propose the followmg sjiecificatious for turpentines, which are 

 applicable for gum spirits turpentine and wood turpentine : " Standard or No. 

 1 turpentine should have a specific gravity at 20''C. of from 0.S62 to 0.870; a 

 refractive index at 20^C. of from 1.4G8 to 1.4TU; 05 i)er cent should distill be- 

 low 170°C., and a layer of not less than 200 mm. should be required to equal in 

 color the Lovibond yellow glass No. 1. On polymerization with 38 normal sul- 

 phuric acid the residue should not exceed 1 per cent, should be reddish in 

 color and viscous, and its refractive index at 20° C. should be fi'om 1.500 to 

 1.520. An undulterated turpentine which does not agree with these require- 

 ments may {jroperly be regarded as not of standard or No. 1 quality." 



Second quality or No. 2 turpentine should have the same specific gravity and 

 refractive index requirements, and 90 per cent sliould distill below 170° C. and 

 a depth of not less than 100 mm. should be required to equal the Lovibond yel- 

 low glass No. 1. The polymerization residue must not exceed 1 per cent and 

 must have a refractive index of not less than 1.50. 



Third quality or No. 3 turpentine should have a specific gravity at 20' C. 

 ur from 0.SG5 to 0.880; a refractive index at 20° C. of from 1.4G8 to 1.485; 60 

 per cent should distill below 170° C. and a depth of not less than .50 mm. should 

 be required to equal the Lovibond yellow glass No. 1. The polymerization residue 

 must not exceed 1 per cent and must have a refractive index of not less than 

 1.500. 



Tabulated results of the examination of many samples obtained from pro- 

 ducers, primary buyers, and dealers are given, from inside and outside of the 

 turi)entine belt. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



The atmosphere: Its characteristics and dynamics, F. J. B. Cordeiro (New 

 York and London, I'JIO, pp. ] III+12D, fiy,s. J3). — This book treats quite ex- 

 haustively of the characteristics and circulation of the atmosphere, attempting 

 to correct and complete work on this subject from the point where Ferrel left it. 



" Since the work is necessarily purely mathematical, all methods and demon- 

 strations have been presented in the simplest manner possible, so that they may 

 be understood by the greatest possible number of readers. 



" The general circulation of the atmosphere, which is treated at some 

 length, has been found to be essentially different from Ferrel's earlier as well 

 as his later conceptions of it. The mechanics of certain nonmeteorological phe- 

 nomena, such as sound, and those coming under the head of light, electricity, 

 etc., have been explained in a simple manner." 



Nitrates in the air of southern regions, A. MDntz and E. Laine {Compt. 

 Rend. Avad. ScL [Paris], 1.5.i {IDll). Xo. .), pp. /66-i69).— This article reports 

 the results of examination of samples of rain and snow collected in different 

 parts of the southern hemisphere duriug the Charcot expedition to the Antarctic 

 regions. 



The amounts of nitrates found in these samples did not vary materially from 

 those found in the snow and rain of temperate regions of Europe, the average 

 for rain being 0.225 nig. per liter and in snow 0.233 mg. per liter. There was 

 no opportunity to study possible correlation between the nitrate content of the 

 air and the appearance of polar auroras. 



The influence of the moon on plant growth, C. Flammarion (Bui. Mens. 

 Off. Rensclg. Agr. [Paris], 9 (1910), No. 11, pp. i26//-i267).— In a previous 

 publication (E. S. R., 17, p. 532) the author reported experiments to determine 

 the effect of the phase of the moon at the time of planting on a number of vege- 

 tables, and tliese exiierimeuts have continued for a considerable period. 



