418 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A number of weather maps, precipitation charts, and hydraulic and hydro- 

 graphic diagrams accompany the report. 



Rainfall and spring wheat, T. A. Blaib (Mo. Weather Rev., 41 {1913), No, 

 10, pp. 1515-1517, figs. 5).— The rainfall and yield of wheat in the three great 

 spring wheat producing States of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota 

 are compared in tables and charts. It is shown that the total precipitation of 

 May and June is, in most years, probably the largest factor in determining 

 the wheat yield in the two Dakotas but not in Minnesota. 



On the loss of water due to evaporation, percolation, and absorption, with 

 special reference to the Brisbane water supply, G. Phillips {Queensland 

 Oeogr. Jour., n. ser., 26-27 {1912), No. 12-lS, pp. 1-15, fig. i).— The author 

 briefly reviews data from several sources which indicate the enormous losses 

 of water through evaporation, percolation, and absorption by soil and vegeta- 

 tion in various localities, particularly Queensland. He concludes that the evi- 

 dence given is sufficient to show " how difficult it is to determine with any- 

 thing like exactitude the quantity of water that any given area may be de- 

 pended upon to yield, or that can be conveyed by natural or artificial channels 

 other than closed conduits such as pipes. 



Silt in the Rio Grande, W. W. Follett {U. S. Dept. State, pp. 102, pi. 1; 

 ahs. in Engin. News, 71 {1914), No. 1, pp. 18-21).— This is a compilation and 

 discussion by the author, as consulting engineer of the International Boundary 

 Commission and advisory engineer of the Commission for the Equitable Dis- 

 tribution of the Waters of the Rio Grande, of silt determinations of Rio Grande 

 waters made prior to January 1, 1913. Methods of procedure are described. 



The data show that the silt is a factor which must be seriously considered in 

 the building of any reservoir on the Rio Grande. The most prominent fact 

 brought out is that no hard and fast rule can be made as to what silt the river 

 will carry in future years. During the 16 years' observation the actual per- 

 centage of silt in the river water varied from 0.76 to 4.14, with an average of 

 1.66 per cent. 



Chlorin in rain water {Agr. Students' Gaz., n. ser., 16 {1913), No. 5, p. 174).— 

 During the year ended September 30, 1913, the rainfall at Cirencester was 33.02 

 in., containing chlorids equal to 40.78 lbs. per acre of common salt. 



Lead-poisoning of a village through the water supply, M. Neisser 

 {Osndhts. Ingen., 36 {1913), No. 51, pp. 920-922) .—Attention is drawn to a case 

 in which an entire small rural community was stricken with lead-poisoning 

 through the water supply. Service pipes, house connections, and some of the 

 plumbing were of lead. Tests of the spigot water showed a considerable lead 

 content, which increased with the length of the lead house connection. The 

 water from the supply contained considerable oxygen and free carbon dioxid. 

 The lead in the water appeared to be either in colloidal or insoluble form, as all 

 evidences of it were removed by filtering through a Berkefeld filter. The 

 author also briefly reviews other studies of lead poisoning, and concludes that 

 if water has a carbonate hardness of 7 degrees or more it will hardly attack 

 lead pipe, but if the hardness is only 3 degrees or less and considerable oxygen, 

 free carbon dioxid, and some nitrates are present, one may expect comparatively 

 strong lead solutions. 



Introduction to the mycology of water supplies and sewage, A. Kossowicz 

 {Einfiihriing in die Mykologic der Gedrauchs- und Ahwdsser. Berlin, 1913, pp. 

 yn-\-222, figs. 62). — This work is meant to serve two purposes: (1) As a guide 

 for chemists, botanists, and technologists, in beginning the study of hydro- 

 biology and the purification of water supplies and sewage, and (2) as a refer- 

 ence book for bacteriologists, hygienists, and hydrobiologists. For the first pur- 



