METEOROLOGY WATER. 117 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Reorganization of weather forecasting in Russia, P. I. Rkotjnov {Trudui 

 Selsk. Khoz. Met., 1909, No. 5, II, pp. i-/.s').— Tho synoptical method of fore- 

 casting the weather which, according to tlie author, is most highly developed 

 in the I'liited States, is only in the incipient stage in Russia. In fact, there is 

 in Russia only one meteorological center, viz., the Chief Physical Observatory 

 at Nikola iev. There sprang up from time to time in Russia a number of local 

 meteorological centers, but none of them are iii operation to-day. The author 

 strongly urges the establishment of an adequate number of local meteorological 

 centers. 



Instructions for the establishing of field experimental observation plats 

 at agricultural meteorological stations {Trudui tieUlc. Khoz. Met., 1909, No. 5, 

 II. pp. ()9-78. pi. 1). — The instructions were issued by the meteorological bureau 

 and deal with the selection of a proper plat, its size (maximum about one-half 

 acre, minimum about 0.067 acre), subdivision, manner of cultivation, etc. 



How farmers may utilize the special warnings of the Weather Bureau, 

 C. F. voN Herrmann {U. 8. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1909, pp. ^87^98).— This 

 article gives a brief general account of the Weather Bureau and the informa- 

 tion it furnishes, and explains the use of special rainfall warnings, frost and 

 cold wave warnings, and storm and flood warnings. INlethmls of lU'otection of 

 different kinds of crops against frost and cold are describt'd. 



The yield of millet (Panicum miliaceum) in dependence upon meteor- 

 ological factors, I. A. Pulman {Trudui Selsk. Kohz. Met., 1909, No. 5, I, pp. 

 6~19, ehartfi 4)- — The field on which these studies were made is situated at 

 ni° 10' north latitude and 37° 21' east longitude from Greenwich. The locality 

 Is of the steppe character, 221 to 225 meters above sea level, and the soil is 

 a clayey chernozem on loess. 



Observations during 10 years led the author to the conclusion that the chief 

 factors determining the yield of millet are temperature and precipitation. Dur- 

 ing the period from stooling to heading the most important role belongs to 

 teni])erature. This should be from 19 to 22° C. and not lower than 18°, then 

 heading sets at the normal time, 35 to 40 days from the time of sprouting. 

 When the temperature is lower than 18° the heading is delayed 5 to 10 days, 

 l)robably resulting in a bad yield. During the period of heading the chief 

 role is played by precipitation. Failure of precipitation at this time destroys 

 the hope for a good crop. If in the 20 days from the beginning of the heading 

 to the formation of the grain the rainfall is less than 30 mm. the yield will be 

 less than medium. 



The influence of meteorological conditions on the growth and yield of 

 oats in the chernozem region, P. I. Bkounov {Trudui Selsk. KIioz. Met., 190S, 

 No. Jf, I, pp. 270, figs. 12). — This report is primarily a digest of the experience 

 of S agricultural meteorological stations. It is stated that discussion of the 

 same subject will be continued in a second part of the same volume, in which 

 final conclusions will be drawn. 



The general conclusions which now seem to be established are that abundant 

 precipitation (more than 100 mm., 3.94 in.), uniformly distributed throughout 

 the period from sprouting to heading, and a resulting moisture content of from 

 16 to 18 per cent in the soil to a depth of 25 cm. (about 10 in.), secured a high 

 yield of both grain and straw, and that this was the controlling meteorological 

 factor. A drought, lowering the moisture below the limits mentioned during 

 the first two-thirds of the period named, affected injuriously the yield of straw, 

 !)ut in most cases did not exert any distinct action on the yield of grain. Since 

 the heading took place in the second half of June, the precipitation of June 



