251 
On the hill sides soil is either absent or thin and patchy, but 
the alluvium and diluvium of the valleys and plains give a 
very rich soil, and it is on such that the farms and villages are 
for the most part situate 
Water-supply varies with ‘the district. Round Salonika water 
is scarce and the supply for domestic purposes is obtained 
either from wells or from the few hill streams. Inland small 
streams supply water for the flocks, and in the vicinity of every 
village several shallow wells supplying water all the year have 
been made, mostly in the banks of streams or sides of nullahs; 
in some cases hill-side springs have been tapped. The writer 
analysed a considerable number of water samples in the Karamudli 
district to the south of the Krusa Balkan, and in all a distinct 
trace of dissolved iron was discovered, and at times a noticeable 
taste was imparted by it to the water. Particles of mica generally 
occur in the spring or well water, and a milkiness due to hydrous 
silicate of aluminium (‘China clay’’) may sometimes be 
observed, especially after storms. 
CLIMATE. 
The chief characteristics of the Macedonian climate are a hot, 
dry summer and a winter with variously alternating snowy, 
wet, fine, warm and cold periods. The hot weather usually 
commences about the middle of May and continues till September. 
The summer days are generally cloudless an azy, an 
such rain as occurs falls usually otis local thunder- 
storms, which are sometimes very sever gus 
ev y 
are the driest months, while September is ‘also frequently dry. 
Long spells of drought, lasting from two to six weeks, may 
u 
one moves inland. During the summer the 
rule, light, with marked diurnal sberctmaed but sarees 
often. lasting for several days, as, 
of ie ts last year, when Salonika was burning. 
the a Stonikll 
Winter c pee towards the end of October. Warm spells 
generally follow the first cold period and occur at Ciaculs 
d From November to March a succession of 
dull ae days, 0 a jen 
ae ae yi He os ‘are the wettest of the year. The first 
snow of the winter 1917-1918 was seen on the summits of Mt 
Olympus on the gion of October 15th, but disappeared dur- 
ing the day, finally coming to remain for the winter on October 
24th. The severity of f the winter weather increases rapidly as 
‘one recedes from the coast, and is especially severe in aoe 
A 
