METEOEOLOGY. 715 



monthly summaries of pressure (maximum, minimum, and mean), wind move- 

 ment, and miscellaneous phenomena (frost, hail, thunderstorms, fog, auroras, 

 and halos) at East Lansing, Mich., are given for the year ended June 30, 1915. 



Climatology [of Quebec], J. L. Decarie {Statis. Year Book, Quebec, 1915, 

 pp. 118-128, figs. 3). — The temperature and precipitation during 1914 and pre- 

 ceding years are shown in tables and diagrams and the general characteristics 

 of the climate of the Province are briefly described. 



It is shown that climatologically the Province may be divided into three 

 sections ; the first, extending from Gaspe to llimouski, which is very damp on 

 account of proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, with a temperature varying from 

 —30 to 80° F. and a crop season from May 30 to October 15 ; the second, lying 

 between Rimouski and Three Rivers, with a temperature varying from —30 to 

 90° P. and a crop season from May 15 to November 1 ; and the third, covering 

 the territory from Three Rivers westward to the boundaries of the Province, 

 with a temperature varying from —27 to 93° P. and a crop season from April 

 20 to November 20. 



The climate is, on the whole, continental and winter passes rapidly into 

 summer and vice versa. " Life awakens with an outburst of vegetation in the 

 forest after a long winter and almost as abruptly, after a short but delightful 

 autumn, plants begin their slumber. The entire cycle for the flora is accom- 

 plished in from five to seven months, from May to the first fortnight of Novem- 

 ber, "When snow falls at the beginning of December it does not melt and it 

 hardens gradually. By means of such a protective covering plants are sheltered 

 from the frost which threatens them in a less severe climate; snow shelters 

 even houses from cold. [It also] keeps the ground warm in winter and 

 fertilizes it." The climatic conditions, in spite of their severity, are stated to 

 be favorable to the growth of cereals, forage plants, roots, or fruits, and for 

 stock raising. 



Tem.perature inversions in relation to frost, A. Mc^\j)ie {Ann. Astron. 

 Observ. Harvard Col., 73 (1915), pt. 2, pp. 168-177, pis. 4; Sci. Amer. Sup., 81 

 (1916), No. 2095, pp. lJfO-142, figs. 3). — This article in large measure covers the 

 same ground as that of a paper previously noted (E. S. R., 34, p. 319). Special 

 emphasis is laid upon the importance of the mixing of air and the relation of 

 air drainage to frost formation. 



Influence of the principal meteorogical factors on winter rye, R. G. 

 ZalenskiJ (Trudy Selsk. Klioz. Met., No. 14 (1915), pp. Jf8-63, figs. 6).— The 

 results of seven years' observations at the Bogoroditsky Agricultural College 

 on the influence of precipitation and temperature on the growth and yield of 

 winter rye are summarized. The general conclusion is that the best distribu- 

 tion of spring and summer precipitation and of temperature is as follows : 

 Abundant precipitation and heat before the formation of heads ; cool and 

 damp weather during the formation of heads ; dry and moderate temperature 

 during the time of blooming ; and moist and warm weather during the ripening 

 period. 



Physical conditions in sphag'num bogs, G. B. Rigg (Bot. Gaz., 61 (1916), No. 

 2, pp. 159-163). — From an analysis of data reported by Cox in a bulletin of the 

 Weather Bureau dealing with frost and temperature conditions in the cranberry 

 bogs of Wisconsin (E. S. R., 26, p. 514), the author concludes that the tempera- 

 ture conditions in both soil and air are less favorable for plants in bogs than 

 on neighboring firm land, and still less favorable in sphagnum moss than in 

 bare peat. As far as relative humidity is concerned, the conditions are less 

 favorable for transpiration on a bog than on neighboring firm land. 



Smoke as a source of atmospheric pollution, W. F. M. Goss (Jour. Franklin 

 Inst., 181 (1916), No. 3, pp. 305-338, figs. 5).— This article summarizes the more 



