114 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



especially warm, the mean tomi)ei-atiire for the moutli being (j.4° higher than the 

 average for the past 40 years. The highest temperature reached was 97° on 

 July 7 ; and the lowest —24° on February 5. May and October were warm 

 months, and but for the prolonged droughts of June and September the growing 

 season would have been exceptionally long. 



"The precipitation for the year was light, over 6 in. below the average. 

 During the ])eriod of 47 days, from June 1 to July 17 inclusive, only 2.1 in. of 

 rain fell ; and from August 18 to October 1 Inclusive, 48 days, the total precipi- 

 tation was 0.0!) in." 



Relation of the weather service to the farmer, J. F. Voorhees (Tenn. Sta., 

 Bpt. Coop, and Ext. Work Agr. Middle Tenn. IVOl-S, pp. 90-102, chttrts 5).— 

 A series of charts based upon data obtained at about 25 stations in middle 

 Tennessee during a period of from 11 to 30 years and showing average date of 

 the last killing frost in the spring and the first in the fall, average length of 

 growing season, mean temperature, and rainfall, is given. 



Some climatic features of Wyoming, and their relation to dry farming', 

 W. S. Palmer (Mo. Weather Rec, 37 (I'JOD), ZV'o. 2, pp. 5ft~56, /?f/.s-. 2).— This 

 article summarizes data collected during the last 17 years on precipitation, 

 temperature, and sunshine with reference to dry farming in Wyoming. 



It is stated that " while the average amount [of precipitation] for the State 

 is 13.68 in., there is a wide variation in the normal amounts received over the 

 various sections of the State. There are portions of Big Horn and Sweetwater 

 counties where the average annual precipitation is probably less than 5 in., 

 while over the extreme northeastern and the extreme northwestern portions of 

 the State there may be a few sections wher-e the annual average is nearly 

 20 in." A map is given showing the variations in annual precipitation in differ- 

 ent parts of the State. As regards seasonal distribution, it is shown that 

 "about 70 per cent of the total annual amount falls during the six months, 

 March to August, inclusive. . . . 



" The varied topography of the State gives a wide variation in the tempera- 

 ture conditions of the various sections of the State. In some sections the 

 growing season is from 4 to 5 months in duration and summer" temperatures 

 rise to 95° or 100°, or even higher; over some of the higher agricultural districts 

 the growing season is short, summer temperatures never rise above 95°, frosts 

 may be experienced in any month, and only the hardier grains and vegetables 

 can be successfully grown." 



The percentage of sunshine is very large and is an important factor in agri- 

 cultural production in the State. The possibility of extending the farming area, 

 and particularly of developing a seed breeding industry, is discussed. 



Weather conditions and statistics, G. Harcourt (Ann. Rpt. Dept. Agr. 

 Prov. Alberta, 1907, pp. Jt7-57). — The character of the weather of each month of 

 1907 is described, with tabular summaries of observations on rainfall and tem- 

 perature at the various meteorological stations in the Province of Alberta. A 

 statement is also given showing the amount of crop insurance against hail dur- 

 ing the year following the inauguration of the policy of such insurance by the 

 territorial government. It is shown that of the 700,000 acres under crop in the 

 province 4.4 per cent was insured against hail. About 8 per cent of the insured 

 aci-eage was damaged by hail, the average indemnity received per acre being 

 $1.62. 



On the climate of Sitka, J. Krcmar {Met. Ztschr., 25 (1908), No. 7, pp. 

 S15-320). — All of the available records, in some cases running back to 1828, are 

 summarized in this article. 



[Meteorological observations in Orange River Colony, 1907-SJ, J. Lyle 

 {Dept. Agr. Orange River Colony, Ann. Rpt., J, (1907-8), pp. 207-281) .—Tables 



