METEOROLOGY — WATER. 817 



Variation of rainfall with altitude, A. G. McAdie (Mo. Weather Rev.. J/O 

 (1912), No. 7, /). 1101). — Observations at different elevations on the San Joaquin 

 River, California, are summarized. These show that the average increase in 

 rainfall up to 3.500 ft. was at the rate of 1 in. per hundred feet. The average 

 increase up to 2,441 ft. was at the rate of 0.73 in. per hundred feet, while the 

 average rate of increase in the level between 2,441 and 3,500 ft. was at the rate 

 of 1.45 in. 



Rainfall in tropical areas and variations observed corresponding to the 

 changes in the moon's phases, F. White (Proc. Rhodesia 8ci. Assoc, 11 (1911), 

 pt. 1, PI). 57-86, figs. 6). — A study of rainfall data at three places (Bulawayo, 

 Selulvwe, and Salisbury) lying within the tropics in South Africa, here pre- 

 sented in detail, are stated to indicate a decided correlation between rainfall and 

 lunar phases. "The summaries of the totals of the three stations for each of 

 the seven days of each lunar period give 6.44 in. of rainfall, which is the mini- 

 mum, precisely at the time of the full moon, and 26.4G in. as the maximum, 

 which falls one day after the day of the new moon. The next highest figure, 

 26.29 in., follows the day of the last quarter." 



Measurements of evaporation from lakes, K. Fischer (Met. Ztschr., 29 

 (1912), No. 8, pp. 366-372, fuj. i ) .—Observations on lalies in the Alps and in 

 Prussia are reported and discussed, particularly with reference to the accuracy 

 of the methods used. 



Evaporation in Egypt and the Sudan, J. I. Craig (Cairo Sci. Jour., 6 

 (1912), No. 68, pp. 103-107; abs. in Met. Ztschr., 29 (1912), No. 8, pp. 392, 

 393). — Data for measurements of evaporation in G districts of Egyi)t and the 

 Sudan are summarized and the accuracy of the observations is discussed. 



The water supply of Indiana (Ann. Rpt. Ind. Bd. Health, 29 (1910), pp. 

 3.'t9-356, figs. //). — The results of examinations of a large number of samples of 

 water collected by health officers are presented graphically and briefly discussed. 



The results show that the public water supplies were superior in character 

 to the private supplies. Of the public water supplies examined 129 were from 

 deep wells, 24 from shallow wells, 16 from streams, 14 from ponds or lakes, 7 

 fi'om springs, and 1 from a cistern. The private supplies were drawn from 212 

 deep wells, 357 shallow wells, 24 springs. 31 cisterns, 3 streams, and 3 ponds. 

 Of the 341 samples of deep well waters examined. 303 were good. 18 were bad. 

 and 20 were of doubtful quality. Of the 381 shallow well samples 185 were 

 of good quality, 158 bad, and 38 of doubtful quality. Of the 19 samples of 

 stream waters examined 10 were good, 6 bad, and 3 doubtful. Of 17 samples 

 of pond water 14 were good and 3 doubtful. Of 31 samples of spring water 

 analyzed 22 were good, 2 bad. and 7 doubtful. Of 32 samples of cistern water 

 20 were of good quality, 11 bad, and 1 doubtful. A large percentage of the 

 waters used by families in which a case of typhoid fever had occurred were 

 unqualifiedly bad. 



Sewage sludge disposal, W. B. Ruggles (Manfrs. Rec., 62 (1912), No. 15, 

 p. 51). — This article briefly describes what is being done in a number of places 

 in England in the way of utilizing sewage sludge as a fertilizer. 



It is stated that " there is no question at the present time of the value of the 

 sludge as a fertilizer. This has been amply proved, and there is a constantly 

 increasing demand for it at prices ranging from $5 per ton to $12, depending 

 on the amount of nitrogen contained. 



" Where lime is used as a precipitant, part of the nitrogen is converted into 

 ammonia and is lost, so that such sludge will only contain about 1.5 per cent 

 of nitrogen, leaving a value of about $6 per ton, while sludge precipitated by 

 sulphuric acid or sulphates will contain at least 2.5 per cent, with a value of 

 $10 per ton or more. 



