210 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



tlje geologic conditions with a view to locating water-bearing formations that 

 might be available sources of water and includes a brief description of the 

 geology and water resources of each county and a geologic sketch map of the 

 area." Anaylses of many of the waters are also reported. 



The surface water supplies are fluctuating and uncertain. The investigations 

 showed " the occurrence of abundant supplies of underground water in this 

 region, but almost invaiiably the water was found to be highly charged with 

 mineral matter. . . . Over a large part of this region the surface waters con- 

 stitute the chief source of supply, both for domestic use and for stock. Away 

 from the main valleys the rainfall is stored in surface tanks for use during 

 the dry part of the year. Owing to the generally friable character of the rocks, 

 the surface waters are charged with fine reddish silt which settles very slowly." 

 Great care in the protection of the waters against pollution and removal of the 

 silt is urged. 



Surface water supply of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, F. F. Henshaw, G. L. 

 Parkee, et ax. ( C7. /S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper 31^, pp. 317, pis. 17, figs. 

 12).— The results of stream flow measurements made in Seward Peninsula 

 during the years 1906 to 1910, inclusive, are reported, with a sketch of the 

 geography and geology of the peninsula by Philip S. Smith and a description of 

 methods of placer mining by Alfred H. Brooks. 



The water supply of farm homesteads, F. T. Shutt {Canada Expt. Farms 

 Rpts. 1912, pp. 167-171). — In continuation of previous studies on this subject 

 (E. S. R., 27, p. 317), 90 samples of farm water supplies were examined. Of 

 these 22 were found to be pure and wholesome, 26 highly suspicious, 24 seri- 

 ously contaminated, and 18 saline. 



The purification of public water supplies, G. A. Johnson (U. S. Geol. Sur- 

 vey, Water-Supply Paper 315, pp. 8//, pis. 8, fig. 1). — "This paper gives a simple 

 and direct statement of the principles governing the purification of water used 

 for domestic purposes and seeks to indicate how best to deal with the various 

 problems involved. It includes a brief account of the sources of water supply, 

 the development of waterworks, water consumption, and the reduction of typhoid 

 fever in the United States. Methods of filtration, sterilization, and softening 

 of municipal waters are discussed in full. Halftone plates and zinc etchings 

 show filtration plants in several cities." 



SOILS— feethizers. 



Soils, W. McGeoege {Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1912, pp. 51-56). — Results of exami- 

 nations of soils proposed for pineapple culture, especially with reference to 

 their content of manganese, are briefly reported. The largest amount of man- 

 ganese found in any of these soils was 1.13 per cent, a much smaller amount 

 than occurs in soils previously examined. Some of the soils, however, con- 

 tained high percentages of titanium, as much as 34 per cent of 'titanium oxid 

 in one case. " The normal Hawaiian soils contain about 5 per cent of titanium 

 oxid." These titanium soils contain a very small amount of aluminum and a 

 large amount of ferrous iron. 



A series of lysimeter experiments to determine tJie chemical and physical 

 effect of lime on certain soils which were not visibly improved in their tilth 

 by application of lime is reported, indicating no very striking chemical effects 

 from the use of the lime either in form of carbonate or of sulphate, although 

 addition of the sulphate increased the solubility of the manganese and mag- 

 nesium. The results were not conclusive as to the effect of the lime on nitrates 

 and ammonia. Capillary rise of water was more rapid where no lime had been 

 added to the soil. 



