METEOROLOGY CLIMATOLOGY. 327 



The necessity of studying the haze, A. A. Schulz (Bpt. Sci. Comm. 

 Min. Agr. and Govt. Estates. St. Petersburg, 1897, pp. 12; abs. in SelsJc. 

 Klioz. i Lyesov., 187 (1897), Nov., p. 412). — Among the meteorological 

 factors unfavorable to vegetation the haze, which is often observed in 

 eastern and southeastern Russia, is of considerable importance. Sev- 

 eral opinions exist concerning the origin of this phenomenon, which 

 acts very injuriously, especially on the ripening of cultivated plants. 

 Some regard it as a result of the earth's storms; others believe it to be 

 the smoke of forest and moor fires; still others consider it as a purely 

 local phenomenon which may be induced by different causes (dust 

 storms, evaporation from the soil, etc.). The question as to the real 

 cause of this phenomenon, however, remains open because of insufficient 

 study. In view of the importance of reaching a solution of this ques- 

 tion the author recommends that observations on haze be made a part 

 of regular meteorological observations and gives an outline plan of 

 observations on this subject. It is stated that the Russian scientific 

 bureau, acting upon the suggestion of the author of the report, has 

 adopted measures for gathering more data on this subject. — p. fireman. 



Weather freaks of the West Indies, F. L. Ostwald (Pop. Sci. Mo., 53 (1898), No. 

 6, pp. 7S9-79S). — Popular notes on the nature and causes of the sudden hot and cold 

 waves, droughts and cloud-bursts, and hurricanes, cyclones, and stifling calms which 

 characterize the climate of the West Indies. 



Investigation of the cyclonic circulation and the translatory movement of 

 West Indian hurricanes, Benito Vines ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bureau Doc. 168, 

 pp. 34). — This is a translation by C. Finley of an article prepared for presentation to 

 the Meteorological Congress at Chicago in 1893, which the chief of the Weather 

 Bureau regards "as the most satisfactory statement of the laws and phenomena of 

 these storms which has yet been made." 



The influence of vegetation on climate and rainfall, J. G. 0. Tepper (Adelaide 

 Observer, 1898, May). 



On the influence of forests on the occurrence of hail in European Russia, V. A. 

 Targonski (Moscow: Society for Insurance of Crops Against Kail, 1898, pp. VI -f- 103, 

 map 1; rev. in Sclsk. Khoz. i Lyesov., 1S9 (1898), Apr., p. 224). — The author concludes 

 that the contour of the surface of the soil, its composition, and the distribution of 

 forests are the chief invariable factors of hail phenomena. — p. fireman. 



Instructions for obtaining and tabulating records from recording instruments, 

 C.F.Marvin (U. S. Dept. Ayr., Weather Bureau Doc. 167, pp. 81, figs. 2). — A manual 

 designed especially for Weather Bureau observers. 



Instructions for aerial observers, C. F. Marvin ( U. S. Dept. Ayr., Weather Bureau 

 Doc. 1G6, pp. 33, 2>/s. 3, figs. 14). — A manual of instruction " for the guidance of aerial 

 observers in the care and management of instruments and apparatus employed in 

 making aerial observations with kites." 



On an absolute actinometer, A. Crova (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 126 (1S9S), 

 No. 20, pp. 1394-139S). 



On the rainfall, quantity of snow, and evaporation in the river basins of Euro- 

 pean Russia, E. A. Heinz (St. Petersburg, 1S9S, pp. 54+XXX1V; rev. in Sclsk. Khoz. 

 i Lyesov., 189 (1898), June, pp. 716, 717). 



Normal annual sunshine and snowfall, A. J. Henry ( P. S. Dept. Ayr., Weather 

 Bureau Doc. 162, pp. 5, chart 1). — The annual percentage of sunshine and the total 

 annual snowfall by calendar years for each of the regular Weather Bureau and Can- 

 adian stations are shown in tables and in a colored chart. The amount of suowfall 

 is given in inches as it lay on the ground. 



