418 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 43 



recent contributions to this subject, which seem to cast some doubt on the 

 popular belief that a snow cover is a beneficial factor in the growth of winter 

 wheat. 



The economic value of Antarctic meteorology to agriculturists (Inicrnntl. 

 Sufjnr Jour., 22 (1920), No. 251, pp. 26V/, 265).— It is stated in this article that 

 " it is generally admitted that we must look to the polar regions for an 

 explanation of the great variations from year to year in rainfall and tempera- 

 ture over the South Temperate Zone." The author maintains tliat even with 

 the incomplete information now available " it has been possible to predict 

 with comparative accuracy the probable seasonal rainfall of South America, 

 the temperature of the Soutli African Plateau, the intensity of the Indian 

 monsoon, and the height of periodic floods, the forecasts being based on previous 

 observations of atmospheric conditions in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic 

 regions. The probable conditions in Australia might also be anticipated if 

 observatories were established in the Ross Sea area. With wireless cfmnnuni- 

 cation not only weekly predictions of comparative accuracy but seasonal 

 forecasts with practical certainty would be available." 



General classification of climates by temperature, precipitation, and the 

 character of the seasons, W. Koppen {Ahs. in Internatl. Inst. Agr. [Rome}, 

 Internatl. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 10 (1919), No. 5, pp. 515-522). — This is a 

 rather full abstract in English of an article briefly noted from the original 

 (E. S. R., 42, p. 212). 



Climatic conditions [of the Huntley Reclamation Project Experiment 

 Farm, 1918], D. Hansen (U. S. Dept. Agr., Dept. Circ. 86 (1920), pp. 5, 6).— 

 The rainfall for the year at this farm, located near Osborn, Mont., was 13.46 

 in. as compared with an average of 14.19 in. for the past 8 years. " The winter 

 precipitation was unusually high, so that the soil was well supplied with 

 ra'oisture at the beginning of the growing season. During the first part of the 

 growing season the rainfall was slightly below normal. The frost-free period 

 extended from May 21 to October 7, or 138 days, which was 10 days longer 

 than the average for 8 years. Severe freezing occuwed during the latter part 

 of October and early in November, which occasioned some difficulty in har- 

 vesting sugar beets." 



Tabular .summaries of data for evaporation and wind velocity as well as 

 for temperature, precipitation, and killing frosts, 1911-1918, are given. 



Weather conditions [on the Newlands Reclamation Project, 1918], 

 F. B. Headley (U. S. Dept. Agr., Dept. Circ. SO (1920), pp. 5-8).— Observations 

 at the Newlands Experiment Farm, near Fallon, Nev., from 1906 to 1918, 

 inclusive, on precipitation, evaporation, wind velocity, cloudiness, temperature, 

 and killing frosts are sumnrarized, and a study of the effect of topography on 

 temperature on the project is briefly reported. 



The weather conditions during the growing season of 1918 were about normal, 

 except that the frost-free period was 131 days, or 8 days longer than the 

 average for 13 years. The total precipitation was 6.23 in., as compared with 

 the 13-year average of 4.97 in. The evaporation during 1918 was 66.64 in., 

 as compared with an 11-year average of 65.66 in. The temperature survey of 

 the project during three years " shows that the higher altitudes have a decided 

 advantage in the matter of minimum temperatures, the mean mininnim averag- 

 ing 4° F. and the absolute minimum 4.4° in favor of the high lands." The 

 stations at which observations were made varied in elevation from 3,915 to 

 4,180 ft. 



Minimum temperatures of 1918 in Paraguay, M. S. Bektoni (An. Cient. 

 Paraguay, Ser. II, 1919, No. 5, pp. 3^5-393). — Observations at the Agricultural 



