METEOKOL<X4Y. 623 



Notes on Vibrio denitrificans, R. G. Smith {Proc. Linn. Soc. Nei" South Wales, 

 ^6 {1,901), pi. I, j)p. US-lJl, pi. 1). — 111 studying the bacteriu found in the caimlH 

 used for coiiveyinu; tiie Hydne)' water supi^ly, the autiior isolated thea))Ove-nientioned 

 species and was struck witli its resenil)lance to the organism wliich produces root 

 tubercles on leguminous plants. In size and character of growth, as well as some 

 other peculiarities, the two are quite similar. The Vibrio, however, differs in its 

 power of growing on ordinary media as well as in media containing little nutriment. 

 Unlike the root tubercle organism, this bacteria is unable to convert free nitrogen into 

 coud)ined forms, but reduces nitrates to gaseous form. 



On the value of plating- as a means for determining' the number of bacteria 

 in drinking-water, W. C. C. Fakes {VaitJ>l. Buki. u. Par., 2. Abl., 7 {1901), No. 11, 

 pj). oS6-391). — The conclusion is drawn that j)lating upon ordinary gelatin, whether 

 made with distilled or tap water, is no necessary criterion of the number of bacteria 

 present, and so far as possible gelatin should be made without meat extractives with 

 the water to be examined or with a sample of water of the same mineral constitution. 



The soluble ferments or enzyms, E. O. Jordan {Pop. Sd. Mo., 59 {1901) , No. 5, 

 pp. 497-503). — The author popularly describes various enzyms, grouping them 

 according to their action upon sugar, proteids, etc. 



Agricultural bacteriology, H. W. Conn {Philadelphia: P. Blaklston's Sons & 

 Co., 1901, p}>. 41'~, fi<J^- 40). — This new book is a study of the relation of l)acteria to 

 agriculture, with special reference to the bacteria in the soil, in water, in the dairy, 

 in miscellaneous farm i)ro<luct8, and in jilants and animals. Different authors have 

 written upon the subject in a restricted sense, but this is one of the first books in the 

 English language that covers the whole range of the relation of bacteria to agriculture 

 in its broadest sense. After discussing the nature of bacteria and fermentation, the 

 author takes up serially the bacteria in the soil and water, showing the transforma- 

 tions caused by bacteria in the soil, manure, sewage, etc., and means of reclaiming 

 lost nitrogen; the relation of bacteria to dairying and the use of cultures of bacteria in 

 butter and cheese making; the fermentations concerned in the preparation of various 

 products, as in vinegar, silage, sauerkraut, tobacco curing, etc. ; the preservation of 

 food products; and parasitic bacteria, in which diseases of animals and i)lants are 

 discussed at some length, the work closing with a chapter on disinfection. As Pro- 

 fessor Conn has given much attention to the bacteria of soils, water, and dairying, 

 those subjects are very fully treated, especially those concerned with the ripening 

 and flavor of dairy products. The book is free from unnecessary technicalities and 

 can be as readily appreciated by the lay reader as by the student. Aside from a few 

 minor particulars the work appears to Vje a good general treatise on the subject, and 

 will be an important addition to our agricultural literature. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Monthly Weather Review {U. S. JJept. Ayr., We((ther Bureau, Monthbj Weather 

 Review, 29 {1901) Nos. 7, pp. 291-340, pis. 2, charts 9, fig. 1; 8, pp. 341-398, ph. 3, charts 

 8; 9, pp. 399-446, charts 9) . — In addition to the usual reports on forecasts, warnings, 

 weather and crop conditions, meteorological tables and charts for the months of July, 

 August, and September, 1901, recent papers bearing on meteorology, etc., these num- 

 bers contain the following articles and notes: 



No. 7. — Special contributions on The thunderstorm, a new explanation of one of its 

 phenomena, by B. McFarland; A meteorological balloon ascension at Strasl)urg, Ger- 

 many, by A. L. Rotch; Diurnal winds on faint gradient in northwestern New Mexico, 

 by R. E. Dodge; Original memoirs on the general circulation of the atmosphere, by 

 M. Brillouin; Supplementary remarks on the theory of the formation of rain on 

 mountain slopes, by F. Pockels; and Yukon weather (illus.), by U. G. Myers; and 



