616 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



on growth of plants, and the falling and renewing of leaves. The data are 

 recorded In tables and diagrams. 



Study of the climate of Bennes, C. Cloakec (Trav. Set. Univ. Bennes, 5 

 (1906), pp. 103-112; 6 (1907), pp. 17-31, fig. i).— This is more particularly a 

 study of daily variations of temperature based upon observations during 25 

 years, 1879-1903. These studies indicate a certain periodicity in the variation 

 of temperature throughout the month, namely, an elevation from the second to 

 the ninth, a fall from the ninth to the twenty-first, an elevation from the 

 twenty-first to the twenty-eighth, and a fall from the twenty-eighth to the 

 second of the month following. 



Meteor ological observations at the Ploti Experiment Station, 1907, M. 

 BouLATOViTCH and A. Winkler (Ghodlchiiini Otchet Ploty. Sclsk. Kiwz. Opuitn. 

 Btantzil, 13 (1907), pp. 1-53, 161-167).— The total rainfall in 1907 was 11.37 

 In., the mean for 13 years being 16.26 in. This low rainfall is exceptional, but 

 one other year, 1904, approaching it with a total rainfall of 11.6 in. Precipita- 

 tions so small as to be of little value were very numerous during the year, 

 there being 116 rainy days. The deficiency of rainfall was especially noticeable 

 in May and October, as these are usually the months of greatest precipitation. 



The total evaporation for the year was 28.3 in., the mean for 13 years being 

 32.5. The mean relative humidity was 70 per cent, being 3 per cent below the 

 13 year average. 



The average temperature for the year was 7.8° C, or 1.1° lower than the 

 13 year average: the maximum, 34.7°, was on August 21, and the minimum, 

 — 24°, January 21 and 24. The maximum temperature of the surface soil was 

 59.6° C, the minimum —26.7°. 



The average atmosi)heric pressure was 29..54 in., or 0.02 in. above the normal. 

 The number of hours of sunshine was 1,971.2, or 79.5 hours below the normal. 



Report of the meteorological commission [Cape of Good Hope], 1907, C. A. 

 Smith et al. (Rpt. Met. Com. [Cape Good Hope], 1907, pp. XIV-\-73). — This 

 report contains a brief account of the general work of the commission during 

 1907, a table showing distribution of instruments during 1907, a financial state- 

 ment, and results of observations during the year on evaporation, tempera- 

 ture, pressure, sunshine, radiation, and rainfall at various stations throughout 

 Cape of Good Hope, as well as observations on surface temperature of the sea. 



A comparison of the rainfall of Sydney and Melbourne, 1876-1905, A. 

 Duckworth {Jour, and Proe. Roy. Soc. N. S. Wales, J,l (1907), pp. 190-195, 

 pis. 2). — Comparisons of total rainfall, variation, and distribution are made in 

 notes, tables, and diagrams. 



Problems of the artesian water supply of Australia, with special reference 

 to Professor Gregory's theory, E. F. Fittman (Jour, and Proe. Roy. Soe. X. 8. 

 Wales, I,! (1907), pp. 100-139, pis. 3).— This article deals at some length with 

 the objections urged by Gregory against the hydrostatic pressure theory, and 

 then considers the theory which he propounds in lieu of it, viz, that the artesian 

 water supply of the Australian basin '* has been evolved from underground 

 masses of igneous rocks, and is forced above the surface in bores by the in- 

 fluence of temperature and rock pressure." The author does not accept this 

 theory as compatible with the actual conditions prevailing. 



Chlorin and solid matter in river water, J. Sack (InspecUe Landb. West- 

 Indie Bui. 13, pp. 24-29). — Determinations of chlorin and solid matter in sam- 

 ples of water of a number of Javan streams at different seasons of the year 

 are reported. 



The decomposition and nitrification of sewag'e (1) in alkaline solutions, 

 (2) in distilled water, J. E. Purvis and R. M. Courtauld (Proe. Camhridyc 

 Phil, -b'oo'., U (1907), No. 4, pp. 354-360).— studies of the decomposition and 



