EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. III. ISSUED APRIL, 1892. No. 9. 



EDITOEIAL NOTES. 



Lines of iiieteorolofiical work in wliich the a^Ticultnral colleges and 

 experiment stations can profitably engage are pointed out by M. W. 

 Harrington, chief of the Weather Bureau, in Experiment Station Bul- 

 letin iSTo. 10, recently issued by this Office. Since these institutions are 

 as a rule rightly located at a distance from the railroads, telegTaph, and 

 telephone centers, it is impracticable to make them a part of the net- 

 work of telegraphic weather stations, from which are sent the daily 

 reports of observations required for the weather map and its accompany- 

 ing predictions. This leaves them free to carry on meteorological work 

 of a more scientific character and of more permanent value. The nature 

 of this work is outlined by Professor Harrington in the introduction 

 to the bulletin as follows. 



'■'■ This is the work of special investigation into meteorologic and cli- 

 matic problems, which requires long-continued and patient observation 

 combined with a high order of ability in i)lanning observations and 

 experiments and in discussing them when once made. They afford a field 

 for the display of skill and talent which is not surpassed in any other 

 branch of science, and the surroundings of the exi)eriment station and 

 agricultural college are verj- favorable for carrying them on. Among 

 these are included such problems as the distribution of temperatures 

 within such heights m the air and depths in the soil as are occupied by 

 animal and plant life and the changes of temperature with th^ hour of 

 day, with the season, with the weather, and with the topography; the 

 problems of an- drainage; the occurrence of frosts and protection from 

 them; the distribution of moisture; the problems of condensation and 

 evaporation of water in the air; the solar and terrestrial radiations and 

 the disposition of them; the action of the meteorologic elements on 

 organic life and the reactions of life on them; the actions and reactions 

 of weather, climate, and soil; the precipitation of the moisture of the 

 air and the disposition of it. 



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