716 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



(2) Generally the summer crops are sown almost immediately before the rains 

 commence and the winter and fall crops immediately the heaviest rains are 

 over ; the fast-gi'owing crops are well watered at once and the slow-growing 

 seeds lie during a long period which is dry and cold. (3) The variations in the 

 dates of spring sowings are governed by the dates on which the last killing 

 frosts of spring fall due ; this is remarkably shown in connection with the sowing 

 of maize (Indian corn). It becomes, therefore, obvious that, while sowing is 

 related to frost as well as to rainfall, there is a definite adjustment of harvest- 

 ing operations to the rainfall conditions." 



It is pointed out that the discussion in this paper is based almost entirely 

 upon average values, and hence the general conclusions are valid only in a 

 broad way. It is stated that attention is concentrated upon rainfall "for the 

 definite purpose of determining the importance of the rainfall factor in the 

 complex conditions of the environment of the agriculturist. In itself the rain- 

 fall regime of an area is typical of its latitude, its situation both on the con- 

 tinent and in relation to the ocean. Therefore, a close relationship between 

 successful agriculture and definite rainfall conditions might have been assumed." 



The effect of weather upon the yield of potatoes, J. W. Smith (Mo. Weather 

 Rev., 43 (1915), No. 5, pp. 222-236, figs. 23).— This article discusses the tem- 

 perature and moisture requirements of potatoes and attempts to correlate the 

 rainfall and temperature of periods of varying lengths during the growing 

 season with the yield of potatoes in central Ohio. Among the conclusions reached 

 are " that cool and wet weather during the first 10 days of July is quite essential 

 as far as central Ohio is concerned, and that the weather of this sliort period has 

 a large influence upon the final yield of potatoes." 



The hottest region in the United States, G. H. Willson (Mo. Weather 

 Rev., 43 {1915), No. 6, pp. 278-280).— It is stated "that not only the highest 

 temperature in this country occurred in Death Valley, but that the highest 

 shade temperature ever recorded in the open air with standard instruments 

 and under approved methods of exposure in any portion of the world was re- 

 corded at Greenland ranch, on the edge of Death Valley, Inyo County, Cal., 

 on July 10, 1913, when the thermometer registered 134° F." 



The region of greatest snowfall in the United States, A. H. Palmer (Mo. 

 Weather Rev., 43 (1915), No. 5, pp. 211-221, pis. 2, fig. l^.—It is shown that 

 the region of greatest snowfall in the United States is that surrounding Tama- 

 rack, Alpine County, Cal., where an average season snowfall of 521.3 in. is 

 recorded. Data for distribution of rainfall and snowfall for other places in 

 California are given. Methods and apparatus used in the measurement of snow 

 are described and conditions accompanying heavy snowfall, pressure from 

 snowfall, the economic importance of deep snows, especially with regard to 

 railway traflic, and historical influences of snowfall are discussed. 



It is shown that up to a certain height there is an increase in the total annual 

 precipitation with increase of elevation. Forty years' observations along the 

 Southern Pacific Railvvay show that up to a height of 6,500 ft. there is an aver- 

 age increase of 0.9 in. of rainfall with every 100 ft. increase of elevation, the 

 rate of increase being greatest between the 3,000 and 4,000 ft. levels. Beyond 

 the 6,500-ft. level the precipitation decreases. 



The fertilizing value of rain and snow, F. T. Shutt (Canada Expt. Farms 

 Rpts. 1914, pp. 89, 127-129). — The studies here reported have already been 

 noted from another source (E. S. R., 32, p. 615). 



Monthly Weather Review (Mo. Weather Rev., 43 (1915), Nos. 5, pp. 211-260, 

 pis. 11, figs. 25; 6, pp. 261-310, pis. 12, figs. 7).— In addition to weather fore- 

 ca.sts, river and flood observations and seismological reports for May and June, 

 1915, lists of additions to the Weather Bureau library and of recent papers 



