328 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Annals of the magnetic and meteorological observatory of the Imperial Novo- 

 Russian University at Odessa, 1896, A. Kxossovski (Odessa, 1S97, pp. 85+ 

 CCLXXXV; abs. in Selsk. Khoz. i Lyesov., 188 (1898), Feb., p. 470). 



Meteorological observations, J. E. Ostrandek and A. C. Monahan (Massachu- 

 setts Hatch Sta. Met. Bute. 112, 113, and 114, pp. 4 each). — These bulletins contain the 

 usual weather notes and summaries of meteorological observations during the 

 months of April, May, and June, 1898. 



Monthly bulletins of the River and Flood Service for April, May, and June, 

 1898, P. Morrill ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bureau Doc. 160, pp. 30, chart 1; 164, 

 pji. 14, chart 1; 169, pp. 14, chart 1). — In addition to the usual data, the April bulletin 

 contains special reports on the saving of life and property iu the lower Mississippi 

 Valley as a result of Weather Bureau flood warnings during the spring of 1897. 



Meteorological review. Report of the meteorological service of the south- 

 west of Russia in 1896. Second ten-year period, I. A. Klossovski (Odessa, 1897, 

 pp. 87; abs. in Selsk. Khoz. i Lyesov., 188 ( IS9S), Feb., p. 469) . 



Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau, 1896-97 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather 

 Bureau Bpt. 1896-97, pp. X+431, pis. 61, charts 33).— This report is divided into eight 

 parts. Part I is an administrative report, which has already been noted (E. S. R., 9, 

 p. 630). Part II gives a list of observing stations; hourly averages of atmospheric 

 pressure, temperature, and wind from records of automatic instruments at 28 sta- 

 tions; average temperature and pressure in inches and thousandths for each hour 

 of 75th meridian time; velocity and frequency of wind; and monthly mean values 

 of pressure, temperature, and wind for the lustrum 1891-1895. Part III gives 

 monthly and annual meteorological summaries for 142 Weather Bureau stations. 

 Part IV gives monthly and annual means and extremes of temperature and dates of 

 first and last killing frosts. Part V reports monthly and annual precipitation. Part 

 VI gives miscellaneous meteorological tables, charts, and reports, including pressure 

 distribution and prevailing winds, January and July ; normal temperature; charts 

 of sea-level temperature; monthly departures of temperature and precipitation in 

 1896 by geographic districts; cloudiness; relative humidity; sunshine, snowfall; 

 descriptions of local storms and tornadoes; and the West India hurricane of Sep- 

 tember 29 and 30, 1896. Part VII is devoted to the amount, variation, and distribu- 

 tion of rainfall in the United States by seasons and by districts. Part VIII is a 

 report on floods of the Mississippi River, which has already been noted (E. S. R., 9, 

 p. 816). 



WATER— SOILS. 



A preliminary report on the soils of Florida, M. Whitney ( U. 8. 



Dept. Agr., Division of Soils Bui. 13, pp. 31, pis. 6,fiys. 3). — The types of 

 soils reported ou are, first, second, and third quality high pine land; 

 pine flats of the so-called "flat woods;" the light hammock, the gray 

 or heavy hammock, mixed land, heavy marl hammock; pineapple land; 

 Etonia scrub, the spruce-pine scrub ; and the Lafayette formation. 



"The principal localities and interests examined were the truck areas around 

 Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Grand Island, Bartow, and Fort Meade ; the tobacco areas 

 of the Lafayette or 'red-land' formation at Quincy, as well as the new tobacco areas 

 at Ocala, Bartow, and Fort Meade ; the pineapple districts at Orlando, Winterhaven, 

 and along the east coast from Fort Pierce to Palmbeach ; also the extensive scrub 

 lauds at Altoona known as the Etonia scrub." 



Four grades of pine lands are noted — pine flats or "flat woods," and 

 first, second, and third quality of high pine lands. Of these the second 

 quality of high-pine land s are the most extensive and important. These 



