METEOROLOGY — WATER. 509 



Examination of fats, oils, and varnish for technical purposes (Ztschr. 

 Landw. Versuchsic. Osterr., 15 {1912}, i\o. 7, i)p. 767-8p, figs. 7)'.— A detailed 

 des<jrii)tion of the methods adopted by the Association of Austrian Agricultural 

 Experiment Stations. 



Bromometric determination of formic acid, H. Madeb (Apoth. Zty., 27 

 {1912), No. 76, pp. 77/6, 7^7; abs. in Jour. Sac. CJie^n. Indus., 31 {1912}, No. 20, 

 p. 1006). — The method depends upon the quantitative oxidation of formic acid 

 to carbonic acid through the agency of bromin. 



Activities of the state chemical laboratoy at Goteborg, Sweden, in 1912, 

 J. E. Al^n {Arsher. Stadskcrn. Lah. GiJtehorg, 1912, pp. 15). — A description of 

 the activities of this laboratory, which involved the examination of 7.389 sam- 

 ples of miscellaneous substances. These included foods, condiments, waters, 

 chemical and technical products, arsenic, seeds, milk, butter and other fats, 

 canned goods, etc. 



Curing' meat on the farm, D. T. Gray {North Carolina Sta. Circ. 4 {1913), 

 pp. 10, figs. 7). — This circular gives directions for selecting, killing, scalding, 

 and dressing hogs on the farm, and the methods for brining, smoking, and 

 sacking pork. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Brief list of meteorological text-books and reference books, C. F. Talman 

 {U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bur. Doc. 512 {1913), pp. 22).— This is the third 

 edition of this list, previously noted (E. S. R.. 22, p. 117). The list is ar- 

 ranged alphabetically by authors in 17 different classes. 



The climatic factor as illustrated in arid America, E. Huntington et al. 

 {Carnegie Inst. Washington Puh. 192 {WU,}. pp. VI+341, pis. H, figs. 90).— 

 Evidence regarding the character and sequence of changes in climate during 

 the last 2.000 or 3,000 years, that is, the period covered by history and man's 

 later development, in the drier portions of America from Guatemala on the 

 south to Idaho on the north is assembled and discussed in this monograph. See 

 also a previous note (E. S. R.. 30, p. 416). 



The evidence was derived from studies of the influence of the present cli- 

 matic conditions upon physiography and upon the habits and distribution of 

 plants and animals including man, account being also taken of the relation of 

 the present climatic conditions in the particular region studied to the great 

 climatic zones of the earth as a whole. In connection with the purely physio- 

 graphic investigations, a study has been made of traces of ancient human 

 occupation in the large number of ruins scattered from the shore of the Gulf 

 of California to the northern limits of New Mexico, as well as in southern 

 Mexico and Yucatan. Data as to climatic changes derived from measurement 

 of sequoias by a method devised by A. E. Douglas, of the University of Arizona, 

 as well as from other tree measurements by the Forest Service of this Depart- 

 ment, are also presented. 



"A large number of phenomena from the diverse fields of geology, archae- 

 ology, history, and botany seem to agree in indicating that during the past 

 3,000 years North America has been subject to pronounced climatic pulsations 

 similar to those which appear to have taken place in Asia and other parts 

 of the Old World. In the temperate portions of the Eastern Hemisphere the 

 climate of the past appears on the whole to have been distinctly moister than 

 that of the* present. The change from the past to the present, however, does 

 not seem to have been gradual and regular, but pulsatory or cyclic, so that 

 certain periods have been exceptionally dry, while others have been wet. In 

 America the same appears to be true." 



