282 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the first beginning with the 2l8t of February ami continuing to tlie 20th of March. 

 This is the period so trying to winter wheat, and much of the winterkilled wheat 

 can be traced to this lack of rainfall, rather than to extremes of temperature. The 

 nest threatening dry period is the first decade of Jnly. This is a short period, and 

 the previous wet period makes it less noticeable. This period is accompanied by 

 a rapidly rising temperature to almost the maximum, and frequently by hot winds. 

 This may result in so much injury to growing corn that the following wet period can 

 not overcome it. 



"The most SQi'ious dry period, on account of its duration, runs through August, 

 September, and the first 10 days in October. It is this period that is especially try- 

 ing to corn, late potatoes, and fall fruits. Two and one-fourth inches of rainfall 

 during thi» period would bring the rainfall curve up to the temperature curve. 



"Probably 1 in. of rain properly distributed would carry crops safely over this 

 period. This suggests the good that might be done with a small amount of water 

 applied at the right time. 



"The wet period in the middle of May frequently prevents the proper cultivation 

 of crops, especially if continued to the end of June. The advantage that might 

 naturally be expected from our wet years is often lost by this season becoming too 

 wet and cold, the cold being indicated by a slight depression of the temperature 

 curve. It is not claimed that any or all of these periods are present each year. 

 Noted examples in recent years of injury to winter wheat by the spring drought are 

 1879, 1880, 1881, 1885, and 1887. Oreat injury to corn resulted from the .July drought 

 of 1881, 1887, 1890, and 1893. The tendency to form the dry periods mentioned is 

 clearly seen in 1882, but a cool .July and August, with a warm spring and fall, gave 

 the unusually large crops of that year on 2 in. less rainfall than normal." 



Meteorology, C. H. Johnson [Massachusetts State 8ta. Ept. 1893, 

 iq). 390-39.~>). — The most conspicuous meteorological plienomeiia of 1893 

 are briefly referred to, and moutlily summaries of observations on tem- 

 perature, humidity, precipitation, wind movement, etc., are tabulated, 

 with notes on casual phenomena. The summary for the year is as 

 follows: .Mean temperature (degrees F.), 44.55; precipitation (inches), 

 total, 43.L*2; mean monthly 3.60, highest monthly, 5.55 (February) 5 lowest 

 monthly, 2.57 (September); snow fall, 80.5; mean dew point, 58.17; 

 mean relative humidity, 79.76; prevailing direction of wind, NW. 



Meteorological summary for July, 189'i {Massachusetts State.Sia. BuJ. 54,}). 1). — 

 Brief notes on the weather au(> condition of crojis and a summary of observations 

 on temoerature, rainfall, and wind movement are given. 



Meteorological summary for North Carolina for June, 1894 (North Carolina 

 Sta. State Weather Service Bui. .7?, pi>. $7-100. maps :.'). — Daily and monthly summaries 

 of observation by the State weather service cooperating with the Weather Bureau 

 of this Department. 



WATER— SOILS. 



The action of lime on the flocculation of different soils, K. 



Sachsse and A. Becker {Landw. Vers. Stat, 45 [1894), Ifo. 1 and 2, 

 2)p. 137-146). — In continuation of previous experiments ' the author 

 tested the flocculating power of lime on the following kinds of soil: (1) 

 A deep alluvial loam, (2) an jeolian loess, (3) a clayey loess loam, (4) 

 a heavy clay soil, and (5) and (6) meadow loams. Only portions of 



' Landw. Vers. Stat., 43 (1891), No. 1 and 2, pp. 15-25 (E. 8. K., 5, p. 695). 



