1919] 



METEOROLOGY. 41 Y 



An improvement in casein making, J. L. Sammis {Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 11 (1919), No. 8, pp. 76^-767).— As the result of a study of the causes of 

 lack of uniformity in casein as it comes from the creamery, with resulting 

 irregularity in the finished glue, revised directions for making casein are sug- 

 gested. 



The principal changes in method recommended are heating the skim milk to 

 95° F. instead of to a higher temperature, adding the dilute sulphuric acid 

 slowly with vigorous stirring until a clear whey is obtained (avoiding excess 

 of acid), and washing the resulting curd with water at 95° equal in volume 

 to one-fourth the volume of the milk used. 



Revised directions, suitable for the use of casein makers, are given in full. 



Agricultural industries, F. Wilbrands, edited by H. Siats {Lehre von den 

 Landwirtschaftlichen Geioerben. Hildesheim: August Lax, 1917, 7. ed., pp. 

 'VII+79, figs. 32). — The industries treated in the seventh edition of this hand- 

 book are starch manufacture, sugar manufacture, and the brewing and dis- 

 tilling industries. 



METEOKOLOGY. 



The larger relations of climate and crops in the United States, R. DeC. 

 Ward (Quart. Jour. Roy. Met. Soc. [Loudon], 45 (1919), Nos. 189, pp. 1-19, fig. 

 1; 190, p. 146; abs. in U. S. Mo. Weather Rev., >}.7 (1919), No. 4, pp. 238-240, fig. 

 1). — The various factors controlling the geographical distribution of staple 

 crops and certain agricultural operations in the United States are briefly noted, 

 the fundamental importance of climate being especially emphasized. The article 

 is based largely upon information drawn from Geography of the World's Agri- 

 culture (E. S. R., 38, p. 895), and on the work of J. Warren Smith, Kincer, 

 Reed, and others. The broad climatic characteristics of the agi'icultural 

 provinces of the United States, proposed by M. Smith et al. (B. S. R., 35, p. 

 191), are described, and the specific climatic requirements of corn, wheat, oats, 

 barley, and rye ; cotton ; hay, forage, and pasture ; tobacco ; citrus and other 

 fruits; and potatoes and other truck crops, are discussed in some detail, as are 

 the climatic conditions controlling live stock production, dairying, dry farming, 

 irrigation, and forest growth. There is also a brief note on the relation of 

 agricultural prosperity to the general welfare. 



Report of the chief of the Weather Bureau, 1918 (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Weather 

 Bur. Rpt. 1918, pp. 292, pis. 7). — This report contains, as usual, a review of the 

 work of the Weather Bureau during the year with special reference, however, 

 to war conditions and service. It is noted that the activities of the division of 

 agricultural meteorology " have been continued, improved, extended, and given 

 specially direct application as far as possible to all agricultural activities of 

 the Nation." This division " has continued its study of the relation between 

 weather and climate and crops. Data have been collected and tabulated and 

 results obtained which are proving of marked advantage to agriculture." 



There are also inchided in this report a general summary of the weather 

 conditions in the United States during the year 1917, with charts, a list of 

 observing stations and changes therein during 1917, and records of sunshine 

 and details of excessive precipitation during that year. 



Monthly Weather Review (U. S. Mo. Weather Rev., 47 (1919), Nos. 3, pp. 

 143-204, i)ls. 16, figs. 14; 4, pp. 205-278, pis. 16, figs. 16).— In addition to special 

 forecasts and warnings, river and flood observations, notes on the effect of 

 weather on crops, halo phenomena, and seismological reports for March and 

 April, 1919 ; lists of additions to the Weather Bureau Library and of recent 

 papers on meteorology and seismology; notes on the weather of the months; 

 solar and sky radiation measurements at Washington, D. C, during March and 



