518 JIXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Temperature and rainfall of Cape of Good Hope] (Statis. Reg. Cape Good 

 Hope, 1909, pp. 47, 48). — Tables are given wliich summarize the results of long 

 period observations on temperature and precipitation at a number of places in 

 ttiis Province. 



Composition of Barbados rainfall (Bpt.Agr. Work Barhados, Imp. Dept. Agr. 

 West Indies, 1907-1909, p. 3). — ^A table is given which shows the amount, dis- 

 tribution, and composition of the rainfall at Dodds from December, 1907, to 

 May, 1909. The total amount for the period was 55.67 in., supplying approxi- 

 mately 180.5 lbs. of chlorin and 6.88 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. By far the larger 

 proportion of the nitrogen was in the form of nitrates. 



Report on lightning strokes in Schleswig-Holstein, H. Brodeesen (Sch?: 

 Naturw. Ver. Schles. Hoist., U (1909), No. 2, pp. 225-275, pi. i).— Detailed 

 data on this subject dating back as far as 1S74 are reported and discussed. 



It is shown that 362 out of each million buildings in Schleswig-Holstein, 

 which has an area of about 7.200 square miles, are annually struck by light- 

 ning. The number of buildings struck in the open country is nearly double that 

 struck in the towns. The strokes were much more frequent and the damage 

 was two and one-half times as great with buildings with thatched or wooden 

 roofs as with slate or metal roofs. The greatest damage occurred on the aver- 

 age during the last third of July, the greatest number of electric storms 

 occurring during that period. The greatest number of electric discharges was 

 observed between 4 and 5 o'clock in the afternoon. 



All kinds of trees were struck, but certain kinds more frequently than others, 

 depending upon the character of the bark and wood, which in some cases fur- 

 nish a poorer conductor and thus afford greater protection than others. Pop- 

 lars were most frequently struck. Of 239 trees struck in 15 years, 109 were 

 poplars. 26 oaks, 3 linden, 21 ash, 11 fruit, 10 willow, 10 pine, 6 alder, 3 elm, 1 

 birch, and 1 beech. 



It was observed that strokes were two and one-half times more frequent in 

 marshy than in dry sections, and that the frequency of strokes decreased with 

 forest growth and increased with its removal. There was no evidence that 

 chimneys attract lightning, but it seems quite clear that weather vanes do. 

 Trees do not protect nearby buildings. Thirty persons and 393 animals were 

 killed during the 15 years covered by these observations; 290 persons were 

 struck (19 fatally) indoors and 22 (11 fatally) out-of-doors. 



A study of hail protection appliances, J. Violle (Ann. Dir. Hydratil. et 

 Am6lior. Agr., Ml». Agr. [France], 1907, No. 36, pp. 117-120). — The experience 

 in cannonading against hail is briefly reviewed. Among the conclusions drawn 

 is that only systematic and vigorous cannonading can hope to produce any 

 protective effect and it is doubtful whether this will have any deterrent effect 

 upon sudden and violent storms. 



Hydrological role of marshes, E. Oppokov (Selslc. Khoz. i Liesov., 230 

 (1909), Sept., pp. 37-57; ahs. in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. 

 Lojndm.), 11 (1910), No. 3, pp. 369-372).— The author combats the opinion, 

 dating from the time of Humboldt, that marshes absorb and. store water in 

 rainy seasons and give it up gradually to streams during dry periods. On the 

 basis of observations on the basin of the Dnieper and on rivers of adjoining 

 territory he shows that the intensified evaporation from marshes in periods of 

 drought not infrequently results in the total drying up of the marshes. Such 

 dry marshes develop a great capacity for water and readily absorb subsequent 

 precipitations as well as the seepage waters from the higher ground, inter- 

 cepting them on the way to the rivers and thus conducing to a decreased return 

 of water to the rivers. 



