626 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



from Die KuUur puhlished by Oesterr. Landw. Gesell. Stuttgart and Vienna: J. Roth, 

 1901, i>p. 16) . — The history of this method of preventing hail is reviewed, as well as 

 the arguments for and against it. The author concludes that it is possible that 

 cannonading may have an influence in preventing hail. 



The tliird international liail congress {Grele, 2 {1901), No. 12, pp. 10-12).— K 

 brief account is given of the hail congress held at Lyons, November 15, 16, and 17, 1901. 

 It is reported that 1,800 delegates were present at the opening session, representing 

 France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, 

 Russia, and Argentina, and including government officials, viticulturists, and scientists. 

 The French Ministry of Agriculture was represented by the Subdirector of Agricul- 

 ture. Resolutions adopted by the congress state that after considering the results 

 obtained during 1901 in Austria, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Ruf iia, and 

 France, it is believed that means of protection against hail merit the attention and 

 study of scientific men and are worthy of trial by agriculturists, and that the method 

 of cannonading has given satisfactory results when properly organized and carried 

 out with sufficient care and vigilance and on not too large a scale. The precautions 

 to be observed to insure success are explained in some detail. 



The hail protection congress, J. Dufour {Citron. Agr. Canton Vaud, 14 {1901), 

 Nos. 22, pp. 559-566; 23, pp. 594-600). — This is a brief account of the congress held 

 at Lyons in November of the past year and the text of a paper on protection against 

 hail in Switzerland, presented to the congress by the author. It is stated that the 

 results reported to this congress were encouraging in certain cases but doubtful in 

 many others. The cases of unsuccessful trials of the cannonading method have been 

 quite numerous, especially in Italy. Some of these have been ascribed to insuffi- 

 ciency of the cannonading, but others have not been satisfactorily explained. 



Storms and hail, I. R. Plumandon {Les orages et la grele. Paris: Masson & Co., 

 1901, pp. 190). 



Clouds and their role in the formation of rain, C. Ritter {Ann. Soc. Meteor. 

 France, 49 {1901), pp. 187-141, 20.3-234). 



Practical experiments in frost protection, J. W. Freeman {California Cult., 17 

 {1901), No. 24, p. 374). — An account is given of an experiment with smudges to pro- 

 tect lemon orchards from frost. The bottoms of the smudge baskets used were cov- 

 ered with dry eucalyptus or palm leaves sprinkled with melted resin mixed with 

 kerosene to the consistency of molasses. A few pieces of kindling were also dipped 

 in this mixture and placed in the basket, followed by untreated kindling. The basket 

 was then filled with coal with the small lumps at the bottom. It is stated that with 

 one basket to 2 trees the temperature of the atmosphere was raised at least 4° in 

 from 4 to 6 hours.' 



A new field for kites in meteorology, A. L. Rotch {Science, n. ser., 14 {1901), 

 No. 350, pp. 412, 413). — This article suggests installing kites on steamships so that 

 observations may be made in calm weather and over the surface of the ocean. A 

 successful trial of this method is ivported. 



Use of kites in "leteorological work {Jour. Franklin Inst., 153 {1901), No. 4, 

 pp. 313, 314).— ^yM note. 



Instructions for voluntary observers {U. S. De/il. Agr., Weather Bureau Doc. 

 250, pp. 27, pi. 1, figs. 9). — This is the second edition of this pamphlet, the object of 

 which is to furnish voluntary observers of the Weather Bureau with ' ' brief instruc- 

 tions for their guidance in taking and recording observations, more especially on 

 temperature and rainfall." 



The Blue Hill meteorological observatory, F. Waldo {Pop. Sci. Mo., 59 

 {1901), No. 3, pp. 290-304, figs. 11). — An account of the organization, equipment, 

 and lines of work of this institution, especial attention being given to the subject of 

 the study of the upper atmosphere l)y means of kites, a line of observation in which 

 this observatory was the pioneer and which "has been pushed with such success 



