956 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



lias proved of groat benefit. After a .small portion of soil luis been introduced and 

 the i)lants develop tubers upon their roots, there seems to l)e a rather rapid spread 

 of the organisms throughout the .soil. For the growth of the different eroi)s, appli- 

 cations of soil at the rate of from 200 lbs. to a ton per aere is recommended where 

 the cost would not be too great. Smaller applications would hardly be expected to 

 give a marked effect on the yield the first season, although the effect might be suf- 

 ficient to secure a good growth during subsequent years. 



A report is given of the effect of bacteria on the development of cowpeas, in which 

 the dry matter and nitrogen content of the tops, roots, and tubercles of 10 average 

 l)lants, grown with and without bacteria, were compared from 3 series of plants. In 

 each case a decided increase in the amount of nitrogen was noted where Ijacteria 

 were present. The experiments with alfalfa and sweet clover have shown that bac- 

 teria from sweet clover tubercles are very efficient as a source for the inoculation of 

 alfalfa soils. 



The author states that while some Illinois soils are becoming deficient in phos- 

 phorus and lime, ground limestone may be applied to such soils with marked benefit 

 and profit, especially for the growing of legumes; but there is abundant evidence 

 that one of the dominant causes of unsatisfactory growth is absence of the proper 

 nitrogen-gathering bacteria. It is believed that the bacteria will not live indefinitely 

 in the soils without the intervention of leguminous crops, but further investigation 

 is needed to estal^lish this fact. 



Three edible toadstools, J. C. Arthur {Indiana Skt. Bid. OS, pp. 45-o0, pis. 7). — 

 The author describes Copriniis micaceus, C. atramentarius, and C. comatus, and gives 

 suggestions for their collection and preparation for the table. 



On the grovrth of higher plants in the presence of a mixture of algae and 

 bacteria, R. Bouilhac and E. Giu.stiniani {Compi. Bend. Acad. b'ci. Paris, 13S{1H04), 

 No. 5, pp. 293-296) . — An account is given of experiments with buckwheat, white 

 mustard, maize, and cresses, the results of which confirm those obtained in experi- 

 ments previously reported (E. S. R., 15, p. 753), and show that nonleguminous plants 

 are capable of utilizing the atmospheric nitrogen which is fixed by alga* and bacteria, 

 the nitrogenous matter being produced by the micro-organisms with sufficient rapidity 

 to i)ermit rapid development of the higher plants. 



METEOROLOGY CLIMATOLOGY. 



Meteorological observations, C. D. Woods {Maine Sia. Bui. 99, pp. 210-212). — 

 A summary of monthly averages of observations at Orono, Me., during 1903, on 

 atmospheric pressure, precipitation, cloudiness, and wind movement, with means for 

 temperatuie and precipitation for 35 years, and monthly and annual precipitation 

 for the same year at 20 different places in Maine. The annual summary for Orono 

 is as follows: Pressure 29.81 in., temperature 42.83° F. (mean for 35 years 42.3), 

 precipitation 37.61 in. (mean for 35 years 44.57 in.), snowfall 64.9 in. (average for 

 35 years 92.1). 



Meteorological observations, J. E. Ostrander and F. F. Henshaw {Massachu- 

 selts Sta. Met. Bids. 181, 1S2, 183, pp. 4 each). — Summaries of observations on pres- 

 sure, temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, and casual 

 phenomena during January, February, and March, 1904. The data are briefly 

 discussed in general notes on the weather of each month. 



Meteorological summary for 1902, C. A. Patton {Ohio Sta. Bui. 143, pp. 

 131-143). — This summary includes notes on the weather and tabulated daily and 

 monthly records of observations at the station at Wooster, Ohio, on temperature, 

 precipitation, cloudiuess, direction of the wind, etc., and for comparison, similar 



