416 - EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



more over the length and breadth of the field, and the average of the several 

 vi-eighings compnted." 



Can the rainfall up to the end of October be used in predicting the tem- 

 perature of the coming winter? F. Standee {Wetter, 27 (1910), No. 9, pp. 

 203-206). — From a study of data covering long periods at Berlin, Frankfurt, 

 and Cleves, the author concludes that from the temperature and precipitation 

 (not precipitation alone) of August, September, and October, the character of 

 the succeeding winter may be predicted with reasonable certainty. 



On the possibility of forecasting the approximate winter rainfall for 

 northern Victoria, E, T. Quayle {Commonwealth Bur. Met. Melbourne Bui. 5, 

 pp. 7, i}ls. 2). — From a study of monsoonal disturbances and of mean pressure 

 and temiJerature the author concludes "that low mean pressures and high 

 mean temperatures during the summer months are more likely than not to be 

 followed by winter rains above average." 



In the method used for predicting the approximate winter rainfall " double 

 weight is given to the monsoonal depressions as compared with pressure and 

 temperature, which may be taken as of equal value for forecasting purposes. 

 The mean departures from the normal are for the pressure ±0.023 in., for 

 the temperature ±0.9°, and for the number of monsoonal depressions ±2.6. 

 If, now, to the figures for the monsoonal departures we add those for the pres- 

 sure in hundredths of an inch, multiplied by — 0.6, and those for temperature 

 multiplied by +1.4, we get combined results with + or — sign, which are a 

 considerable modification of those for the monsoonal departures, naturally 

 tending to numerical exaggeration when all are in agi'eemeut. The factors 

 used for the pressure and temperature departures are the multipliers necessary 

 to make them equal the mean monsoonal departures, but divided by 2 on ac- 

 count of the weights. . . . 



" The signs of the numbers obtained in this way are in agreement with those 

 for the departures from normal of the following winter rains no less than 

 nineteen times out of twenty-two and in serious disagreement only twice." 



In the author's opinion the results point to the possibility of issuing a win- 

 ter forecast for northern Victoria at least by the end of April and often by the 

 beginning of that month. 



Meteorological observations at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, J. E. Ostrander and C. M. Damon {Massachusetts 8ta. Met. 

 Buls. 263, 26.'/, pp. '/ each). — Summarie.'^ of observations on pressure, tempera- 

 ture, humidity. i>recipitation, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, and casual phenomena 

 during November and December, 1910, are presented. The general character 

 of the weather for November is briefly discussed, and the December bulletin 

 gives a summary for the year. The principal data, in this summary are as 

 follows : 



Pressure, reduced to freezing and sea level (inches). — Maximum, 30.87, Jan- 

 uary 4 ; minimum, 29.11, January 29 ; mean, 30. Air temperature, in ground shel- 

 ter (degrees F. ). — Maximum, 97, July 24; minimum, — 9, January 5; mean 

 hourly, 47.4. Humidity. — Mean dew-point, 38.3 ; mean relative humidity, 76. 

 Precipitation. — Total rainfall or melted snow, 36.11 in.; number of days on 

 which 0.01 in. or more rain or melted snow fell, 117 ; total snowfall, 44.5 in. 

 Weather. — ^Total cloudiness recorded by sun thermometer, 1,661 hours, or 37 

 per cent; number of clear days. 142. Bright sunshine. — Number of hours re- 

 corded, 2,793. or 63 per cent. Wind. — Prevailing direction, west-northwest; 

 total movement, 59,242 miles; maximum daily movement, 468 miles, November 

 27; minimum daily movement, 28 miles. January 17 ; maximum pressure per square 

 foot, 15 lbs., January 3, north-northwest, and February 23, west-northwest. 



