512 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECOED. 



methods and costs of developing underground water supplies, special adapt- 

 ability of waters for domestic or medicinal use and their application in agri- 

 cultural and other industries, the relation of well and spring waters to the 

 public health with particular reference to water-borne diseases." 



It is shown that plenty of water is to be had in this area and, except in a 

 limited district in the southeastern and eastern part of the region, artesian 

 supplies of abundant flow and excellently adapted for domestic purposes can 

 be obtained without difficulty. " Dug wells are so cheaply sunk that they have 

 become the main source of domestic supply. Many such wells from their location 

 and the insufficient precaution against the entrance of water contaminated by 

 organic wastes may frequently become dangerous to the public health. But 

 dug wells properly located and protected will, in many places, yield entirely 

 satisfactory supplies. The deposits underlying the terraces on which stand 

 many of the towns and villages of the coastal plain transmit water readily, 

 hence springs issuing from such terraces or shallow wells in the villages are 

 easily polluted by filth from vault privies and from cesspools. The mineral 

 content of the well and spring waters varies greatly at different localities, 

 or even in the same locality, hence both the deep and the shallow waters are 

 variously suitable for domestic uses, boiler supply, or particular industries. 

 The most striking characteristic of the artesian waters of certain formations 

 on the west side of Chesapeake Bay is their relatively large content of sodium 

 bicarbonate. In this aspect they differ from many deep waters." 



The investigations reported in this bulletin were made under a cooperative 

 agreement between the Virginia Geological Survey and the U. S. Geological 

 Survey. 



Sewage pollution of interstate and international waters, with special 

 reference to the spread of typhoid fever. — VI, The Missouri Siver from 

 Sioux City to its mouth, A. J. McLaughlin (Pub. Health Scrv. U. S., Hyg. 

 Lab. Bui. 89, 1913, pp. 84, pis. 4, figs. 20).— This report states that sewage pollu- 

 tion of the lower Missouri River is generally from Sioux City to its mouth, 

 being most pronounced in the vicinity of cities and packing plants, that there 

 has been an undue prevalence of typhoid fever for years in every city taking its 

 water supply from the Missouri River except St. Joseph, and that St. Joseph 

 had high rates in 1910 and 1911. This necessitates a high degree of purification 

 in order to make Missouri River water safe. Filtration alone is not adequate. 

 The use of hypochlorite of lime in addition has given good results in many cases. 



Chlorid of lime in sanitation, A. H. Hookeb {ISlew Yoric and London, 1913, 

 pp. V+231).— This is a compilation of data relating to the uses of chlorid of 

 lime in sanitation, including among others water purification and sewage disin- 

 fection. It consists of a general review of the subject and a series of anno- 

 tated references to literature. 



SOILS— FEETILIZEES. 



The value of soil analyses to the farmer, A. D. Hall (Jour. Roy. Agr. Soc. 

 Etigland, 13 (1912), pp. 1-9). — The author summarizes the present position of 

 soil analysis as follows: 



" Mechanical analysis enables us to classify soils and assign an unknown 

 example to its type. From the type, combined with knowledge of the situation 

 and climate, we may predict its suitability or otherwise for particular crops. 

 Chemical analysis will tell us whether a soil is getting acid or needs liming to 

 make it work properly and utilize the manure supplied to it. From chemical 

 analysis we can settle what class of manures ought to be used, whether sul- 



