1916] METEOROLOGY. 317 



different species, which is not altogether obliterated by repeated cultivations. 

 Sugars from widely distant countries show no greater variation in this respect 

 than sugar from adjoining plantations. ... It was observed that the micro- 

 organisms found in sugars do not predominate either in the mill juice or on the 

 cane leaves. Analyses showed these sugar deteriorative forms to occur only to 

 the extent of 19.5 per cent in the fresh juice. From this point they increase to 

 46 per cent and 91.5 per cent in the sulphured and defecated juice, respectively. 

 The filter press appears to be the vital point in determining the infection of the 

 finished sugars." 



A distinct and hitherto undescribed species of bacteria, commonly occurring 

 in the interior of borer-infested cane, was isolated and named Bacterium sac- 

 chartim officinarum. " Inoculation experiments upon cane showed . . . that it 

 is not a great factor in the deterioration of the juice of the growing cane, hence 

 its presence there does not apparently aggravate the deterioration following 

 borer infestatior.." 



The products of the farm slaughterhouse, sausage kitchen, and smoke 

 house, A. Haeing and W. Hislop {State Col. Wash., Dept. Ext. Bui. 10 {1916), 

 pp. 23, figs. 6). — This pamphlet discusses the slaughtering of beef cattle, veal, 

 sheep, goats, and hogs, and outlines the methods in use for the curing and 

 smoking of meats. Directions for the preparation of various kinds of sausage, 

 lard, soap grease, and tripe, together with a list of tools for the farm slaughter- 

 house, are included. 



Forest chemistry, Puran Singh {Ann. Rpt. Bd. Sci. Advice India. 1914-15, 

 pp. 10-21). — These pages contain brief comments on minor products distilled 

 from the deodar and their value and uses, the optical rotation of steam-distilled 

 deodar oil, the dry distillation of deodar, the best season for collecting myroba- 

 lans as a tannin material, an inquiry as to the possibility of reducing the harsh- 

 ness of tan barks, the manufacture of products from Boswellia serrata and their 

 chemical composition, Indian sumac, use of nickel hydroxid in tannin estimation, 

 camphor in dried camphor leaves, the camphor content of the various parts of a 

 camphor tree, and the deterjnination of moisture in fresh camphor. 



The conifer leaf oil industry, A. W. Schorgee {Metallurg. and Chem. Engin., 

 14 {1916), No. 9. pp. 515-518, figs. 4)- — This article discusses the conifer leaf 

 oil industry and describes the still and its operation. Certain factors which 

 influence the yield of oil are indicated. 



\ table giving the yield of oil, specific gravity, and principal constituents of a 

 number of the conifer leaf oils is submitted. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Illusions of the upper air, N. Shaw {Nature [London], 97 {1916), Nos. 2426, 

 pp. 191-194; 2421, pp. 210-214, figs. 3). — This is a brief review of progress in 

 meteorological theory in England since 1866, showing how the development of 

 upper air research has modified commonly accepted views regarding the 

 atmosphere in general, especially the conception of cyclones and anticyclones, 

 the convection theory, and the general structure of the atmosphere. It is 

 stated that the principal result of this study of the upper air " is the division 

 of the atmosphere into two layers: A lower layer about 10 km. thick, the 

 troposphere, the region of convection ; and an upper layer, the stratosphere, 

 in which there is no convection. We can use the information to test some 

 of the generally accepted ideas about cyclones and anticyclones by comparing 

 the results of speculation with the new facts. Many of the pictures which we 

 imagined now appear to have been illusions. Those of us, for example, who 

 thought that because the air was warmed from the bottom, the upper part 



