WATER SOILS. 1035 



approximate variations in the other best suited to different classes of plants for dif- 

 ferent periods of growth. 



The periods of plant growth and the effects of climatic conditions on plants, 

 J. B. Chabanrix and P. Duchein ( Ann. licole Nat. Ayr. Montpellier, 9 (lS95-'96), pp. 

 142-l'i i, 296, 297). — This is a tabulated record of observations on the date of ger- 

 mination, leafing, flowering, maturity, and defoliation during 1894-'95 of 22 deciduous 

 and 8 evergreen trees and shrubs, 5 perennial herbaceous plants, and 17 annual 

 plants, and a similar series of observations during lN95-'96 on 22 deciduous and 8 

 evergreen trees and shrubs. 



WATER— SOILS. 



Tobacco soils of the United States, M. Whitney ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Division of Soils Bui. 11, pp. 47, pis. 13). — This bulletin gives a 

 brief review of recent literature on tobacco, statistics of tobacco pro- 

 duction in different tobacco-growing- districts of the United States, 

 meteorological conditions in the great tobacco regions, and texture and 

 water content of typical soils of the various tobacco-growing districts. 



Tbe conclusion is drawn that there is not sufficient difference in the 

 meteorological conditions in the different regions, as ordinarily recorded, 

 "to explain the distribution of the different classes of tobacco, yet this 

 distribution is probably due mainly to climatic conditions. . . . 



"One must still judge, so far as the climate is concerned, mainly from the experi- 

 ence of others as to the class of tobacco to be raised, as the ordinary meteorological 

 record will be of Aery little value in determining this point. The plant is far more 

 sensitive to these meteorological conditions than are our instruments. Even in such 

 a famous tobacco region as Cuba tobacco of good quality can not be grown in the 

 immediate vicinity of the ocean or in certain parts of the island, even on what would 

 otherwise be considered good tobacco lands. This has been the experience also in 

 Sumatra and in our own country, but the influences are too subtle to be detected by 

 our meteorological instruments. 



"Little, therefore, can be said at the present time in regard to the suitable climatic 

 condition for tobacco of any particular type or quality." 



Next to climatic conditions the class and type of tobacco depends 

 more largely upon the character of soil than upon any other condition. 

 The present bulletin reports and discusses mechanical anaylses of a 

 large number of samples of soil and subsoil collected in the more 

 important tobacco districts, and also gives records of determinations 

 of the moisture content during several years "in one or two localities 

 in some of the principal tobacco districts. 7 ' 



The results show that the cigar tobacco soils of the Connecticut Val- 

 ley contain on an average considerably less than 5 per cent of clay and 

 maintain on an average about 7 per cent of water throughout the season. 

 "These soils are too light in texture for any of the staple farm crops. 

 They are adapted to the quick-growing spring vegetables. . . . The 

 conditions seem to be peculiarly adapted to a particular grade of wrap- 

 per leaf tobacco.'' Attention is called to the fact that a few years ago, 

 when there was a greater demand for heavier cigars, these light soils 

 had little or no value for tobacco, the tobacco being grown inainly on 



