1917] METEOROLOGY. 417 



beans cured in the laboratory were in most cases superior in vanilla resins 

 and coloring matter. This is significant since vanilla resins and coloring matter 

 are considered important adjuncts to the quality of vanilla beans. The superior 

 flavor of the extracts prepared from the laboratory cured beans may therefore 

 be ascribed to the resinous constituents. A considerable proportion of the 

 vanilla resins are left unextracted when the menstruum is less than 65 per cent 

 alcoholic strength." 



The curing of the green beans at room temperature, with or without previous 

 treatment with water at 90° C. for a short period of time produced beans of 

 the best quality, as judged by the flavoring extracts prepared from the samples. 



Notes on the production of oil of citronella, A. W. K, de Jong (Teysmannia, 

 27 (.1916), No. 4-5, pp. 246-252 figs. 2).— These pages contain notes on the prepa- 

 ration of the grass for distillation, the distillation process, and the separation 

 of the oil and water in the crude product. 



Analytical data submitted show an increase of 44 per cent in yield of oil from 

 grass which had been dried for ten days over that yielded by fresh material. 

 Cutting the grass in lengths of from 3 to 5 cm. (1.2 to 2 in.) was also found to 

 increase the yield. The residue from the distillation on analysis showed moist- 

 ure 15.8 and nitrogen 2 per cent. Its value as a fertilizing material Is indicated. 



The use of bark for paper specialties, O. Kkess (Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 8 (1916), No. 10, pp. 883-S86).— Experiments on the use of hemlock and 

 oak bark used in conjunction with rag stock for the manufacture of roofing 

 felts, etc., the use of hemlock and oak bark with unbleached sulphite pulp for 

 a hanging paper, and the use of spruce and balsam for wall boards are described. 

 Suggestions as to further possible uses of such stock are made and the economic 

 importance indicated. 



METEOROLOGY. 



The effect of climate and soil upon agriculture, R. K. Spafford (Univ. 

 [Nehr.] i^tudies, 16 (1916), No. 1-2, pp. 91-llS, figs. 26).— This article is based 

 primarily upon farm-management studies in 16 counties in Nebraska, but also 

 takes into consideration certain general observations extending over a wider 

 area of the surrounding region. 



From the studies in Nebraska it is concluded that the most important natural 

 factors determining the character of farm business in that State are moisture 

 and soil texture. " In general cultivated plant growth per acre varies quite in 

 harmony with the growth of native vegetation," and this is determined largely 

 by the rainfall. There is a " rapid change from favorable to adverse conditions 

 after passing the 24-in. line of rainfall. The number of acres required to pas- 

 ture a horse or cow may be used as a rough measure of this change. To provide 

 five months' pasture for a mature animal in western Nebraska requires al)out 

 four times the number of acres necessary in eastern Nebraska. From this fact 

 alone it is not out of reason to infer that a decrease in the effective value of 

 moisture reduces the available pasture growth from 1 to about one-fourth." In 

 one case studied the effective value of moisture is such that the total usable 

 pasture growth is only about one-fourth that in another, and it was found that 

 the size of the farm in the first case was at least four times that in the second. 



These conclusions, though based largely on Nebraska data, are not considered 

 local in bearing. " Moisture problems from southex-n Texas to the head of the 

 Mississippi River are closely related. To the south they are influenced by high 

 temperature, while to the north they are modified by low temperature. From 

 the head of the Mississippi northwest into Saskatchewan and Alberta a lobe of 

 favorable summer temperature determines, to a large extent, the boundaries of 



