METEOROLOGY — WATER. 15 



milk aud dairj' products, conserved fruits and vegetables, tannin, peat, water, 

 and alkaloids. 



These books are to be companion volumes to the author's handbook on chem- 

 ical technology. 



Yearly reports in regard to the fermentation org-anisms, A. Koch {Jahres- 

 her. Garungs-Organ., 18 (19^,), pp. VIII+684; 19 (1908), pp. VIII+670).— 

 These are the reports for 1907 and 1908 of the progress made in the field of the 

 fermentation organisms. 



Manufacture of starch, F. Rehvpald (Die Stdrlcefabrikation. Vienna and 

 Leipsic, 1911, //. ed. rev., pp. VIl+302, figs. 87). — This is a technological hand- 

 book giving methods for the manufacture of starch, dextrin "lucose. sirup, and 

 sugar color. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



The climate of Switzerland, J. Maurer, R. Billwiller, Jr., and C. Hess 

 (Das Kliina dcr ISchweiz. Frauenfeld, Sivitzerland, 1909, vol. 1, pp. VIII+302, 

 ■pis. 5, figs. 9; 1910, vol. 2, pp. y+2i7).— The climatic features of Switzer- 

 land as shown by observations extending over 37 years (1864-1900) are 

 described. 



The influence of rain and of temperature of the air on cereal crops in 

 the Governments of Saratov, Samara, and Tambov, S. Khakizomenov (Selsk. 

 Khoz. Vtestnik fiigo-Vosiok, 1911, No. Jt-6; abs. in Zhur. Opyin. Agron.(Kuss. Jaw. 

 Expt. Landw.), 12 (1911, No. 6, pp. 927, 928; Internat. Inst. Agr. {Rome], Bui. 

 Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 (1912), No. 3, pp. 609, 610).— From a com- 

 parison of meteorological conditions and crop yields during 25 years, the fol- 

 lowing conclusions are drawn : 



" Increase of rain in winter is accompanied by a parallel increase in the 

 crops; abundant rainfall in November, December, January, February, and 

 March is beneficial to all cereals, but heavy rains in April are on the contrary 

 very injurious to them. Increased rainfall in August, September, October, and 

 April causes a decrease in the crops of spring cereals, while winter cereals and 

 perennial forage plants are not harmed. The explanation of the good and bad 

 effect of rain must be sought for in pedology and in vegetable physiology. The 

 effect of capillary action is the principal cause of the damage wrought by rain. 

 A detailed description is given of the movement of water in the soil during 

 the different seasons of the year. 



" In the district of Saratov, as the temperature is below the optimum in 

 autumn and winter, and above in June and July, it follows that during both 

 these seasons the nitrification processes are retarded and hindered." 



Precipitation in Havana in each month, of the years 1859 to 1908, E. W. 

 MiJLLER (Tropenpflanzer, 15 (1911), No. 12, pp. 678, 679).— A table gives the 

 monthly and yearly averages for this period. The annual mean for the 50 

 years is 1,234.8 mm. (48.6 in.) The driest month is March, with a 50-year 

 average of 51.8 mm., the wettest June, with an average of 166 mm. 



Protection of Beaujolais against hail by electric barrages, J. Perraud 

 (Prog. Agr. et Vit. (Ed. VEst-Centre), 33 (1912), No. 11, pp. 52^-332).— An 

 account is given of the installation of the Beauchamp method (E. S. R., 22, 

 p. 118) in this x'egion. 



Water powers of North Carolina (N. C. Geol. and Econ. Survey Bui. 20, 

 1911, pp. 383, pis. 2, figs. 2). — This bulletin has been prepared under the direc- 

 tion of M. O. Leighton and M. R. Hall of the U. S. Geological Survey. A 

 large amount of data is presented relating to the flow and power of streams 

 in North Carolina, including annual rainfall data, gage heights, and dis- 



