SOILS. 21 



tions of the wire, as shown by Hertz, but that with a current of an oscilhitory 

 cliaracter, i. e., a current wliich rai)idly reverses its direction, this condition no 

 longer hokls, and if the direction is altered very rapidly tlie interior of the wire — in 

 our case the lightning rod — may be almost free from current." 



Si)eciflc directions are given regarding the proper construction and 

 maintenance of conductors and otlier means of protection against 

 liglitning, and reference is made to the prevalent misapprehensions 

 "that lightning never strikes twice in the same place; that the most 

 exposed place is always struck; thut a few inches of glass or a few feet 

 of air will serve as a competent insulator to bar the progress of a flash 

 that has forced its way through a thousand feet of air," etc. 



Prompt and unremitting efforts to restore consciousness in persons 

 struck by lightning are urged. "There is reason for believing that 

 lightning often brings about suspended animation rather than somatic 

 death. . . . ^o records sufficiently extended and authentic are avail- 

 able to ascertain what x>roportion of persons struck by lightning 

 are killed outright. I know of but one record, and in that of 212 

 persons struck 74 were killed." 



Mateorological observations (Arkansas Sta. Rpt. 189S, pp. 143, 144). — A tabulated 

 summary of obsers'ations on temperature, rainfall, and cloudiness from May to 

 October, 1891, at Fayetteville, Ark. 



Meteorology for 1892, E. D. Njcwton {Neiv York State Sta. Ept. 1S92, pp. 701- 

 716). — Tables are given which show the monthly precipitation since 1882; a daily 

 record of direction and movement of wind during each month of 1892; a daily sun- 

 shine record for 1892, and a monthly summary of the sunshine record May 1, 1885, 

 to .January 1, 1893; and daily readings of maximum, minimum, and standard ther- 

 mometers for each month of the year 1892. 



Meteorological summary for North Carolina for March, 1894, H. B. Battle, 

 C. F. vox 1Ii:kmaxx, and R, Nunn (North Carolina Sta. Met. Bui. 54, jyp. 39-52, 

 maps 2). — Notes on the weather and detailed summaries of observations by the State 

 weather service cociiierating with the Weather Bureau of this Department. 



SOILS. 



Conservation of moisture in the soil, S. B. Green (Minnesota 

 Sia. Bui 32, pp. 232-338). 



Sijnopsis. — Means of reducing the loss of soil moisture by evaporation are dis- 

 cussed. Wind-breaks are valuable for this purpose, but mulching is sliown 

 to be especially effective by the results of experiments and observations at the 

 station. 



The three ways in which water which reaches the soil is dissipated — 

 surface drainage, underground drainage, and evaporation — are brieHy 

 discussed, and means of lessening the loss of water from evaporation 

 are explained. The means suggested are wind-breaks, mulching, and 

 cultivation. The advantages of wind-breaks are deduced largely from 

 tlicoretical considerations, but results of quite extensive experience 

 with mulches on trees, shrubs, small fruits, and grapes on the station 

 farm are reported. The water content of soil' and subsoil of mulched, 



