424 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



results show that " when the rate of evaporation was below the average for the 

 year, it followed the mean temperature ; when it was above the average for the 

 year it followed the sunshine and the black-bulb temperature, and that the wind 

 appeared to have had but little effect upon it." The rainfall during the year at 

 Camden Square was 22.97 in., the evaporation 1G.14 in. 



The mean of the records of evaporation at 11 different stations shows that the 

 amount of evaporation increased steadily to July and then fell uniformly until 

 the end of the year. 



The rains of the Nile Basin in 1905, H. G. Lyons (Cairo: AI-Mokattam 

 Print b}<j Office, 1006. pp. JfO, pis. [)). — This report includes tables and maps of 

 monthly rainfall and data and diagrams of Lake Victoria levels, of Nile floods, 

 and of gage readings for Lake Albert, Bahr el Ghazal, White Nile, Blue Nile, 

 Atbara. and Nile. 



The physiograiahy of the River Nile and its basin, H. G. Lyons (Cairo: 

 ^National Printiiuj Dcpt., 1906. pp. VIII-\-^ll, pis. 48, map 1). — This monograph 

 deals in an exhaustive manner with the dimensions, geology, climate (particu- 

 larly rainfall and winds), and water regime (floods, river flow, lake levels, etc.) 

 of the different parts of the Nile Valley. A liil)liography of 216 references is 

 given. 



Hail, LoiSEL (.IZ^s. in Rev. Gen. Agron., n. ser., 1 (1906), Vo. 6-7, pp. 250- 

 25.'i). — This is a review of an article discussing the nature and origin of hail 

 and the damage caused by hailstorms. 



It is stated as a result of a number of observations that ordinary hailstones 

 weigh from 4 to 5 gm., although some have been observed which weigh 600 gm., 

 and a few which exceed 1 kg. in weight. Hailstorms are said to be most fre- 

 quent in the spring and summer, June and July being the months of maximum 

 frequency. They are associated with storm conditions in which electric phe- 

 nomena are most evident, and it is believed electrical activity plays an important 

 I)art in the formation of hail. It is stated that hail is formed at high elevations, 

 probably at the summits of the cumulo nimbus storm clouds, which ai"e usually 

 from 4.000 to .'").000 meters high. Hailstorms are usually of very short duration, 

 not exceeding, in the author's observations, 5, 10, or at most, 15 minutes. Con- 

 trary to the general belief it is claimed that the distribution of hailstorms is 

 not affected by tojiography. Data are given showing the enormous loss from 

 hail in France. 



. On hail and weather shooting, R. Baur (Zischr. Angew. Chem., 19 (1906), 

 Vo. 'lO, p. 167S). — This is a note on a discussion at the recent meeting of the 

 German Association of Naturalists and Physicians on the relative efliciency of 

 different kinds of ordnan</e for this puriiose. 



The mechanics of water softening, J. J. Kovle (Jour. Sac. Clieni. Indus., 

 25 (1906), No. 10, pp. .'i52-456, figs. -}; abs. in Bui. Sac. Chini. Paris, 3. ser:, 36 

 (1906), No. 18-19, p. 1068). — Apparatus for use in the lime-soda process of 

 water softening is described. 



Underground waters of Tennessee and Kentucky west of Tennessee 

 River and of an adjacent area in Illinois, L. C. Glenn ( [/. S. Geol. Survey. 

 Water-Supply and Jrrig. Paper No. 16.'f. pp. 113, pis. 7, figs. 13). — This report is 

 based upon the results of a part of the summer's field work and of subsequent 

 trips over various portions of the area dealt with, as well as upon correspond- 

 ence with owners of wells and springs and well drillers. 



The report deals with " an area in western Tennessee and Kentucky and 

 southern Illinois in which the surface formations are for the most part uncon- 

 solidated deposits that were laid down in an embayment of the great sea that 

 once existed in the Mississippi Valley. In Tennessee this embaymeat area La- 



