AIR WATER SOILS. 1 1 9 



of "a pamphlft of information respectinfi tlie tlu'ory ami coiistrnction of baronu'ti't-s 

 in •general, witii summary of instructions for tlu; care and use of tlie standard 

 Weather Bureau instruments." 



The mean diurnal variation of temperature at Tacubaya, M. Mokicno y 

 Axn.v {Mnii. i/ licv. Soc O'wnf. "Antonio Alzatt'," 15 {WOO- 1 HOI), No. o-d, pp. 1S9- 

 200). — This is a contriljution to tlie study of tlie i-Mmatology of the valley of Mexico. 



Protection against hail, J. Roisehts {Grele, ^i {1901), Noh. 4, pp. S-.~>, fii/. 1; 5, 

 pji. .)-.'V, //r/.s'. ,i). 



Agronomic charts and the agricultural situation of the Canton of Redon, 

 (t. v. Lec'HAKTIER {Otrle.'< afjronomiquei^ et sUuatvjn a<jricok' da Canton dc Redon. 

 RenncK: Ohertliur, 1900, pp. 74)- — This pamphlet explains the a,<rricuitural chart show- 

 ing the composition and fertilizer reipiircment.s of the soils of Kedon, hascil on 

 analyses of 229 samples. 



AIR— WATER— SOILS. 



On the elimination of methane in the atmosphere, M. Ukbain {Compt. liend. 

 A<-((d. Sri. I'dris, l.l.' {1901), Xo. H, pp. SS4-oo(!). — Previous studies on this subject 

 are briefly referred to and experiments are reported which indicate that the disap- 

 pearance of the methane from the air is not entirely, or even largely, due to the 

 oxidizing action of ozone, but to its absorption by plants. The latter fact was Ijrought 

 out by growing plants in an atmosphere containing varying amounts of methane and 

 observing the amount of methane which had disappeared at the end of different 

 periods. 



Evaporation from water surfaces, L. G. Carpexter ( Colorado Sta. Rpt. 1900, 

 p. J16). — A tal>le is given which shows the monthly and annual evaporation from 

 a tank 3 by 8 by 3 ft. flush with the ground at Fort Collins during 14 years, 1887-1900. 



Mineral-water industry {Spec. [K S.'\ Considar Rpts., 22 {1901), pt. -2, pp. 85- 

 212). — This is a report of consuls of the United kStates on the extent of trade in 

 mineral waters in various countries of Europe, India, Japan, Siberia, Syria, Pales- 

 tine, Asia Minor, New South AVales, New Zealand, Victoria, and Mexico. 



The chemical composition of the soils of the southwestern districts of the 

 Cape Colony, C. F. JuRrrz {Tram. Phil. Soc. South Africa, 11 {1900), pt. 2, pp. 125- 

 160, rluuif! 5; Agr. .Tour. Cape Good Hope, 18 {1901), Nos. 6, pp. 328-338;' 7, pp. 391-401; 

 8, pp. 452-462). — An account is here given of the work done to date, January 31, 1900, 

 on the systematic soil survey of the Colony which was begun in 1892 and which has 

 been noted from time to time (E. S. R., 12, j). 122). The results are reported in 

 tabular form and in charts, and there is a brief discussion of the general subjet;t of 

 soil analysis and of the practical application of the analytical data reported, with a 

 description of the methods used in this investigation. These methods are in brief 

 as follows: The samples are taken to a depth not exceeding 12 in. and sufiiciently below 

 the surface to avoid top growth and accumulations. The sample is washed through 

 a 5 mm. mesh sieve. The part passing the sieve, together with the residue from 

 the evaporation of the water used in washing it through, is designated flne earth and 

 is used for the determination of lime, potash, and ])liosphorid acid. The portion 

 which does not pass through the 5 nun. mesh sieve is dried and sifted through a 1 

 mm. mesh sieve. The part passing through is designated coarse sand and is included 

 with the fine earth in determining moisture, organic matter, chlorin, and nitrogen. 



To prepare the solution for analysis, allow 200 gm. of the tine earth to remain in 

 contact with 400 cc. of hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1.115) in a large flask for 5 days 

 at ordinary temperature, shaking thoroughly from time to time. Filter through dry 

 plaited lilters into a dry flask, evai)orate 250 cc. of the filtrate tr) dryness, using first 

 a small open flame, then the water bath, and finally a sand batli or air oven at 120° 

 C, adding during the evaporation a few cubic centimeters of strong nitric acid. 



