METEOROLOGY — WATER. 213 



Technology of impregnation, T. Kollkb (Die Jinpriiffniruiig^-Technik. 

 Vienna and J,<iijzir [1011], />/j. Wl+.'/.'/.i, figs. //J). — After discussing the 

 various materials used for impregnation, the author in this book descriljes in 

 detail the impregnation of woods for the purpose of protecting against rotting, 

 impregnation of miscellaneous materials for rendering them impervious to 

 water, impregnation for the purpose of making certain commodities and miscel- 

 Iane<jus ;irti<-les fireproof, impregnation of fluids and gases, impregnating ma- 

 chinery, and special methods of impregnation. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Climatic influences in the economic development of Australia, K. Van 

 Ci.EEF (liul. Geoffi: Hoc. I'hiladel])hia, 8 il'JlO), Xo. J,, pi). 1-26, dgnis. 0, 

 maps 3). — The author shows that as regards climatic characteristics Australia 

 is quite sharply divided into (1) a hot, dry. interior province, and (2) a more 

 humid subtropical coastal province, and that distribution of population and 

 agricultural production very closely coincide with these climatic division.s. 

 The limifeil possibilities of reclamation bj' means of irrigation are esf)ecially 

 emijhasized and a very close relation between economic development and 

 occui'rence of droughts is pointed out. 



In view of the fact that the mineral resources of the country are limited and 

 manufacturing must therefore remain at a minimum, "the country must be 

 absolutely dependent upon the soil. The soil is the prime factor in bringing 

 returns to the people. The production from the soil is dependent upon the 

 climate, especially where irrigation is imi»ossible as it has practically proven 

 to be in Australia. . . . The discoverj' of a jnethod wherel»y irrigation may be 

 possible will mean Australia's freedfjm from the destructive drought and will 

 ofA'r opportunities for continued jirogross. on a limited scale. 



A short bibliograi)hy of the literature bearing upon this subject is given. 



Meteorological observations at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, J. E. Ostrandeb and C. M. Damon (Masmchusetts fita. Met. 

 Jiuls 2G7, 208, pp. .} each). — Summaries are given of observations at Amherst, 

 Mass., on pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, simshine, cloudi- 

 ness, and casual phenomena during March and April, 1911. The data are briefly 

 discussed in general notes on the weather of each month. 



The disinfection of water, It. G. Perkins {Mo. Bui. Ohio Bd. Health, 1 

 {1911), -Yo. 3, pp. 72-78). — The more efficient methods for this purpose recently 

 proposed are briefly described, and a short bibliography of the main sources 

 of information regarding them is given. 



Nonrelation of the natural ice supply to typhoid fever and dysentery, 

 H. W. IIiLL (Cold Htorayc and Ice Trade Jour., J,0 {I'JIO), Xo. 6, pp. 33-35).— 

 In this article the position is taken that the danger of transmission of these 

 diseases by means of ice has been very greatly exaggeratetl. 



The handling and utilization of sewage sludge, A. Elsnee {Die Behandlung 

 tind Verwertung von Eldrschlamm. Leipsic, 1910, pp. VIII+87, figs. 30). — 

 This i)amphlet deals in a comprehensive way with the amount and character 

 of sludge obtained in different processes of sewage disposal and with different 

 methods of handling and using the sludge. A sec-tion is devoted to the use of 

 sludge as a fertilizei", both in wet and dry condition, and in mixture with 

 absorbent materials. This discussion is confined to statements regarding the 

 experience at various places in the use of sludge as a fertilizer and does not 

 pass upon the economy of this method of utilization. 



Night soil — a valuable manure, G. K. Kelkae {Dept. Agr. Bombay Bui. 3i, 

 1909, /ip. 12). — Various methods of handling night soil are described, and 



