446 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The observations recorded were made on 360 fermentations in tanks of 5,000 gal. 

 capacity each, making a total of 1,250,000 gal. of wine, which, it is believed, will put 

 the work on a practical basis. 



It was found in the fermentation of wine that the temperature varied from 60 to 

 105° F., with an optimum temperature of about 85° F. When wine was fermented 

 at a much higher temperature the amount of sugar reduced was depreciated and the 

 amount of acetic, lactic, and other acids increased, with a depreciation in the amount 

 of alcohol. Fermentation at 85° F. or lower results in a reduced amount of volatile 

 acids and albuminoids, and an increase in the percentage of alcohol and dryness. 

 Experiments with the cultivated yeasts showed that fermentation was more regular 

 and more rapid with the cultivated forms than with those naturally occurring on the 

 fruit. The period of fermentation was about the same for both, and the temperature 

 at which the best fermentation took place was the same. 



Investigations were carried on to determine the effect of the addition of sulphur- 

 ous acid or sulphites to white wine, the theory upon which their use was based being 

 that the chemical will stop the natural fermentation, leaving a comparatively clean 

 must to be drawn off. This must is then inoculated with pure cultivated yeasts 

 which have been developed so as to produce fermentation in the presence of a con- 

 siderable percentage of sulphurous acid. So far as the investigations have been car- 

 ried the results obtained are believed to be very satisfactory. 



METEOROLOGY— CLIMATOLOGY. 



Meteorological chart of the Great Lakes, A. J. Henry and N. B. Conger 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bureau, Meteorological Chart of the Great Lakes, 1904, No. 1, 

 pp. 30, pis. 5, figs. 2). — This is a summary of observations on the meteorological con- 

 ditions of the winter of 1903-4 in the lake region, with notes on the opening of the 

 navigation season of 1904, ice during the winter of 1903-1 at different points on the 

 Great Lakes, display of storm signals on the lakes, and lists of observation and storm- 

 warning stations. 



Meteorological observations, J. E. Ostrander and G. W. Patch {Massachusetts 

 Sta. Met. Bids. 187, 188, 189, pp. 4 each). — Summaries of observations on pressure, 

 temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, and casual phenom- 

 ena during July, August, and September, 1904. The data are briefly discussed in 

 general notes on the weather of each month. 



Meteorological and magnetic observations at the observatory of the Col- 

 lege of Belen, Havana, 1903, L. Gangioti (Observaciones meteorological y mag- 

 neticas hechas en el ohservatorio del Colegio de Belen, Habana, 1903. Havana: Colegio 

 de Belen, 1904, pp. 74, charts 3). — -Detailed records and summaries of observations on 

 pressure, temperature, tension of aqueous vapor, humidity, wind, evaporation, cloudi- 

 ness, and rainfall are given for each day and for different hours of the day for each 

 month of the year 1903. Casual phenomena and magnetic observations are also 

 noted. The mean atmospheric pressure for the year was 762.19 mm. (29.725 in.), 

 maximum 769.84 mm. (30.024 in.), minimum 755.73 mm. (29.473 in.); the mean 

 temperature (shade) 24.8° C, maximum 32.7 (August 22), minimum 12.6 (Decem- 

 ber 4); the average relative humidity was 74.2; the total rainfall 1,311.9 mm. 

 (51.06 in.). 



Meteorology of the spring of 1904 {Bui. Dir. Agr. et Com. [Tunis], 9 {1904), 

 No. 32, pp. 464-475).— A summary of observations at different places in Tunis on 

 atmospheric pressure, temperature, cloudiness, etc., for the months of March, April, 

 and May, 1904. 



Invariability of our winter climate, W. B. Stockman ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather 

 Bureau Doc. 312, pp. 5; reprint from Mo. Weather Rev., 32 {1904), No. 5, pp. 224-226).— 

 Temperature data " covering a considerable period of years at a number of selected 



