1«1T1 METEOROLOGY. 619 



Washing the fatty acids once with 50 cc. of cold water was found to be 

 sufficient. 



It is indicated that the filtration should be carried out as nearly as possible 

 at 15.5°. Cooling the alcoholic solution to about 14° and violently shaking be- 

 fore bringing to the final temperature of 15.5° has been found to yield more 

 concordant results. 



The modified procedure is described in detail and experimental data ob- 

 tained in tlie examination of mixtures containing coconut oil submitted. 



Observations and experiments on the preparation of tea, J. J. B. Diiuss 

 {Dept. Landh., Nijv. en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Medcd. Proefstat. Thee, 

 No. 52 (1917), pp. 84, pi. 1). — This pamphlet discusses the withering and fer- 

 mentation of tea and gives results of some experiments on artificial and natural 

 drying of tea. The data are submitted in tabular and graphical form. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Forecasting the seasons, A. McAdie {Sci. Amer. Sup., 84 (1917), No. 2169, 

 pp. 50, 51, figs. 2). — This article briefly discusses the so-called Roseau Mondial, 

 or world net, in its relation to the forecasting of seasonal conditions on the 

 basis of the position of infrabars and hyperbars. It is shown that the survey 

 thus provided makes possible certain important deductions regarding the con- 

 trol of seasonal conditions by the large pressure areas. The article also deals 

 with the relation of sun six)ts, volcanic eruptions, and heavy cannonading to 

 weather changes. 



It is stated that " we may dismiss the question of the effect of war in making 

 unseasonable weather ; but we can not disregard the rather more important 

 question — the effect of an abnormal season upon the operations of man, includ- 

 ing war. An unseasonable continuance of south and east winds over central 

 Europe due to a temporary displacement of the continental infrabar may cause 

 deficient rainfall if not drought during the growing period and so affect the 

 harvests." 



Climatological data for the United States by sections {U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Weather Bur. Climat. Data, 4 (1917), Nos. S, pp. 250, pis. 3, figs. 8; 4, pp. 217, 

 pis. 3, figs. 3). — These numbers contain brief summaries and detailed tabular 

 statements of climatological data for each State for March and April, 1917, 

 respectively. 



Meteorological observations at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, J. E. OsTEANDEat and W. P. Saundebs (Massachusetts Sta. Met. Buls. 

 S4I-342 (1917), pp. 4 each). — Summaries of observations at Amherst, Mass., 

 on pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, 

 and casual phenomena during May and June, 1917, are presented. The data 

 are briefly discussed in general notes on the weather of each month. 



The meteorology of Brazil, C. M. Delgado de Cabvalho (Met^orologie du 

 Br6sil. London: John Bale, Sons, d Danielsson, Ltd., 1917, pp. XIX-\-528, pis. 

 12, figs. 34; rev. in Scot. Geogr. Mag., S3 (1917), No. 7, pp. 315-325).— Thi?. is 

 in the main a compilation of the principal things that have been published 

 about the climates of Brazil, with numerous references to sources of informa- 

 tion. It includes sections of special interest from the standpoint of agricul- 

 tural meteorology, as, for example, droughts and measures taken to mitigate 

 them; frost; and the weather conditions prevailing in the regions especially 

 adapted to coffee, cacao, and sugar cane. 



Three groups of climates are recognized, "(1) equatorial and subequatorial 

 climates, which Include those of the region extending to the latitude of the 

 lower Sao Francisco, about 11° S. ; (2) tropical and subtropical climates, em- 



