METEOROLOGY WATER. 421 



deficiency was greatest, a good crop of wheat was grown and other crops made 

 fair returns, whereas in North Daliota, while the deficiency in precipitation on 

 the whole was not nearly so great, crops were to a large extent nearly total 

 failures. This was due in some measure to the fact that there is normally 

 considerably more rainfall in the eastern portion of the district than in the 

 western, so that while the deficiency was gi-eater, the actual rainfall was still 

 sufBicient for fair crop growth." 



It is thought that the prime cause of severe crop failure in some cases was 

 the intense heat which prevailed, particularly in the northern and western 

 portions of the district. " Experienced farmers have stated that had normal 

 temperatures been experienced during this critical period fair crops would have 

 been harvested despite the deficient rainfall. Over the more eastern and 

 southern portions of the district high temperatures were less persistent and 

 the damage to crops was not so great." 



Forecasting the supply of water for the summer from the depth of snow, 

 A. G. McAdie {Mo. Weather Rev., 39 {1911), No. 3, pp. ////o-^//7, pgs. .2).— This 

 article briefly discusses this subject on the basis of observations at Summit, 

 I'lacer Co., Cal., at an elevation of 7,017 ft., and describes a simple mechanical 

 device for comparing total precipitation, snowfall, run-off, and rate of melting 

 of snow with a view to predicting the rate of disappearance of the snow in 

 the mountains and the probable water supply. The data upon which the 

 discussion is based are given in detail. 



Surface water supply of the Ohio River basin, 1909, A. H. Horton, M. R. 

 Hall, and R. H. Bolster {U. S. (ieol. i^nrreii, Wdter-Siipply Paper No. 263, 

 pp. 192, pis. 6). — This is one of the series of papers on the surface water 

 supply of the United States, and gives the results of flow measurements on 

 the Ohio River and its tributaries, covering a drainage area of about 210,000 

 square miles. 



Surface water supply of the Hudson Bay and Upper Mississippi River 

 basins, 1909, R. Follansbee, A, H. Horton, and R. H. Bolster {U. S. Geol. 

 Surreij, Water-Supply Paper No. 265, pp. 231, pis. //). — This is one of the series 

 of papers on the surface water supply of the United States, and gives results 

 of flow measurements of streams in the drainage areas tributary to Hudson 

 Bay and the Upper Mississippi River. 



Preliminary report on the ground waters of Estancia Valley, New Mexico, 

 O. E. Meinzer {U. S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper No. 260, pp. 33). — 

 This is a preliminary report upon the underground waters of this valley, which 

 covers an area of about 2,000 square miles near the geographic center of New 

 Mexico. 



It is stated that " the underground supply is too small to irrigate more than 

 a small part of the valley, but it is sufficient to add materially to the prosperity 

 and comfort of the people. Even where the depth to water is great, the irriga- 

 tion of a garden, lawn, and orchard will generally be feasible. In the central 

 area, however, the presence of alkali may seriously impair the quality of the 

 water or may prohibit its use. Taken as a whole, the water of Estancia Valley 

 is a valuable resource that should be developed, but its development should be 

 conducted carefully and with full cognizance of the inherent limitations." 



" In spite of the high cost of fuel, if the water is lifted in the most economical 

 way and is wisely used, pumping for irrigation can under favorable conditions 

 be made profitable." 



Geology and underground waters of southern Minnesota, C. W. Hall, O. E. 

 Meinzer, and M. L. Fuller {U. 8. Geol. Survey, Water-Swpply Pa/per No. 256, 

 pp. //Oe, pis. 18, figs. 9). — The purpose of the investigations here reported was 

 " to determine to the fullest practicable extent the principal facts in regard to 



