WATER SOILS. (U7 



Report of the meteorologist, J. E. Ostrander (Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Ept. 

 1S97, pp. 45, 46). — A brief statement of the work of the year in the meteorological 

 department of the station. 



Meteorology, P. BAname (Rap. Ann. Sta. Agron. [Mauritius], (1897), pp. 1-7).— 

 A record is given of observations on atmospheric pressure, temperature, and precipi- 

 tation during the year 1897. 



The meteorology of 1896 ( Dans. Highland and Agr. Soc. Scotland, .',. ser., 9(1897) 

 pp. S6SS71). — Notes on the weather, summaries of ohservations of atmospheric 

 pressure, temperature, sunshine, ete., during each month, with departures from 

 normals. The influence of the season upon the character of the crops of wheat, 

 barley, oats, potatoes, and turnips, is also noted. 



Results of meteorological observations, 1894-95 (Erqebnisse der meteorologi- 

 schen Beooachtungen hn Jahre 1894-95. 14-15 Ber. meteorologische commission. Naturf. 

 ]'(■)-. Briinn. 1896-97. 



Meteorology, J. E. Bonebright (Idaho Sta. IUd. 13, pp. 76-88). — Monthly and 

 yearly summaries are given of the records at Moscow for 1801, 189"), 1896, and 1897; 

 at Grangeville for 1894, 1895, and 1896; and at Nampa for 1894, 1895, and 1897. 

 Observations arc recorded on temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, 

 cloudiness, dates of first and last killing frosts, and relative humidity and mean dew- 

 point of the growing season. 



WATER— SOILS. 



The conservation of soil moisture and economy in the use of 

 irrigation water, E. W. Hilgard (California Sta. Bui. 121, pp. 12, 

 pis. 3, fig. I). — Eeference is made in this bulletin to a series of soil 

 moisture determinations which the station has undertaken with a view 

 to utilizing "the present unusual season [1898] for the study of the 

 limits of endurance of drought on the part of the several crop plants' 

 and with it to determine the minimum of water that will suffice for 

 their satisfactory growth in the several soils." This work is not yet 

 completed, but has already given some valuable results. 

 . It has been shown that plants send down their roots to a much greater 

 depth in the deep uniform soils ot the arid region than is usual in the 

 soils of humid regions. This is believed to be the main cause of the 

 remarkable resistance to drought shown by plants in these regions. 

 The author discusses the advantages of so applying the irrigation water 

 and fertilizing that plants will be encouraged to send their roots into 

 the depths of the soil, and of so cultivating the soil that its storage 

 capacity will be increased and evaporation decreased. 



Some of the more important conclusions are, in brief, as follows: 



"The most economical mode of using- irrigation water is to put it 'where it will 

 do the most good,' close to the stem of the plant or trunk of the tree, and let it soak 

 downward so as to form a moist path for the roots to follow to the greatest possible 

 depth. . . . Fall plowing wherever the laud is not naturally adequately absorbent 

 and is not thereby rendered liable to washing away is a very effectual mode of util- 

 izing the winter's moisture to the utmost. . . . Moistening the ground to a consider- 

 able depth by winter irrigation is a very effective mode of promoting; dee)' rooting, 

 and will thus stand in lieu of later irrigations, which, being more scaut, tend to 

 keep the roots near the surface. ... It can not be too strongly insisted upon that 

 in our arid climate farmers should make themselves most thoroughly acquainted 



