510 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



serios of reports on "river gauge readings, the publication of which was begun 

 by the Signal Service and has been continued by the Weather Bureau. . . . 

 The tabulated gauge readings are accompanied by a statement which includes 

 the locations of the stations, descriptions of gauges and bench marks, heights of 

 flood stages, low-water and flood marks, and other data, for the various river 

 stations whose gauge readings are included in the t.-ihles." 



Agricultural and industrial hydrology of Argentina, E. H. DucLoux ( TraT). 

 i. Coil!/. Ciciit. Santiago dc Cliilc, J, (1908-0), pp. 5-JH + [2l \). — Tliis report 

 deals with the surface and underground waters of different districts of Argen- 

 tina and gives data regarding the distribution, quantity, and composition of the 

 waters. 



American mineral waters: The New England States, W. W. Skinner and 

 G, W. Stiles. Jr. (U. 8. Dept. AgK, Bur. Chcnu Bui. 139, pp. Ill, figs. 2).— This 

 is the first of a proposed series of bulletins on American mineral waters. See 

 also a previous note (E. S. R., 17, p. 641). The bulletin defines natural and 

 mineral waters, discusses the origin of ground waters and the chemical and 

 physical agencies affecting their composition, and describes methods of collec- 

 tion and analysis, stating results, and classifying and naming waters. 



The methods of bacteriological examination followed by the Bureau of Chem- 

 istry are described in detail. Analyses of 5 waters, from Connecticut, 8 from 

 Maine, 13 from Massachusetts, 6 from New Hampshire, 3 from Rhode Island, 

 and 3 from Vermont are given. The springs are described and the quality of 

 the water as shown by analysis is indicated. The advertised analysis, when 

 available, is given in each case for comparative purposes. 



Farm well water, R. Hakcourt (Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 

 30 (1910), pp. 79-81). — Of 28 samples of farm well water of which analyses 

 are here reported only 4 Avere considered safe for drinking purposes. 



Pond fertilizing experiments, Kuhnert (Landw. WchnM. Schles. Hoist., 61 

 (1911), No. 25, pp. -P'-'i-'pS). — A brief account is here given of a series of ex- 

 periments during 1910 with Thomas slag, nitrate of soda, kainit, lime, and 

 manure to test this method of increasing the supply of food in fish ponds. 



Such use of fertilizers was found as a rule to gi\e a profit in increased amount 

 of fish products. The addition of nitrate of soda to Thomas slag and kainit 

 was found to be especially profitable in increasing the growth of water plants 

 suitable for food for fish. Liming also gave good results. The use of manure 

 was found to be beneficial when employed with care, but as a rule commercial 

 fertilizers proved to be the most suitable for the purpose. 



On the decomposition of water by ultraviolet light, A. Tian ( Conipt. Rend. 

 Acad. 8ci. [Paris], 152 (1911), No. 15, pp. 10 12-101 Y). — The experiments here 

 reported indicate that under the action of light from a mercury vapor lamp in 

 quartz, water is decomposed into hydrogen and hydrogen peroxid with ultimate 

 evolution of oxygen. Eventually, therefore, the action of the light is identical 

 with that of electrolysis as far as the gases evolved are concerned. 



Home waterworks, C. J. Lynde (New York, 1911, pp. XIII+270, figs. 106).— 

 This is one of the series entitled The Young Farmer's Practical Library, edited 

 by E. Ingersoll, and is described in the subtitle as a manual of water supply in 

 country homes. It deals in a concise, simple manner with the value of water in- 

 doors ; first steps in kitchen equipment ; underground water, wells, springs, 

 rivers, lakes, and cisterns as sources of water supply; the construction and 

 operation of pumps; gravity and pneumatic tanks; and plumbing and sewage 

 disposal. A list of firms dealing in water supply and plumbing materials is 

 appended. 



The protection of water supplies, H. C. H. Shenton (Surveyor, 39 (1911), 

 Nos. 1008, pp. 698-101; 1009, pp. 732, 733).— The author attempts to show in this 



