59 
NATORTE 
[Marcu 21, 1912 
almost constant rate of increase of velocity of 
about nine miles per hour per 5000 feet, except 
in the first few thousand feet, where the rate of 
increase is slightly higher. Chart 3 shows that 
the maximum velocity in winter is greater than 
that in summer, the difference increasing con- 
siderably with height. In charts 6 to 9 effective 
use is made of isopleths, or lines that show the 
variations of a quantity which is dependent upon 
two others. The simplest example of a diagram 
of isopleths is probably afforded by an ordinary 
contour map, showing the dependence of height 
upon position. In these charts, however, the three 
quantities represented all of different 
dimensions; thus, charts 7 and 8 show how velocity 
varies with height and season, and with height and 
time of day, respectively. 
In charts 10 to 19 are represented by means cf 
wind-roses the percentage frequency and velocity 
of winds of all directions at heights ranging from 
650 feet (ground level) to 10,000 feet at Blue Hill. 
The results for 650 feet are deduced from hourly 
observations made at the observatory; those for 
greater heights are obtained from 230 kite ascenis 
made during fifteen years, on occasions when the 
velocity was more than ten and less than seventy 
miles per hour, this being the condition necessary 
for kite-flying. The results are similar to those 
obtained at Lindenberg, near Berlin, by Prof. 
Assmann, the main features being the ultimate 
decided preponderance of westerly and _ north- 
westerly winds in summer and winter respectively, 
and the gradual increase of velocity with height 
for all directions. - 
Chart 21 correlates the preceding ten charts by 
indicating how to pass from those drawn for one 
level to those for the next higher level; it shows 
how to forecast the average upper winds from a 
knowledge of the surface wind and the prevailing 
atmospheric circulation, taken to be either cyclonic 
or anticyclonic. To the aeronaut and aviator this 
problem must ever be of great importance. 
The next charts give wind-roses for the region 
of the north-east trade wind, and indicate clearly 
the existence of the south-west anti-trade. These 
results are derived from 715 observations of 
direction and velocity in sixty-seven balloon ascents 
made during four expeditions by M. Teisserenc 
de Bort and Prof. Rotch on board the Otaria. 
The volume concludes with a chart giving two 
summer airship tracks across the Atlantic; one 
from Boston to London in the region of prevailing 
westerly winds, the other from Lisbon to the West 
Indies through the trade wind area. This chart 
will be of much interest to aeronauts who wish 
to emulate the example of Messrs. Wellman and 
Vaniman. 
NO. 2212, VOL. 89| 
are 
The facts set out should become familiar to the 
meteorologist as well as to the airman. To the 
latter, the charts represent, so to speak, the wind- 
climate of the region in which his craft move, 
and they are consequently of importance to him. 
They will not assist him to forecast the likelihood 
of dangerous phenomena like line-squalls—for that 
information he must look elsewhere—but as these 
exceptional occurrences are comparatively 
frequent, the average state of the atmosphere as 
represented on the charts is also usually a reason- 
able guide to the conditions to be expected on a 
particular occasion. 
Prof. Rotch was a pionéer in the development 
of modern methods of upper-air research, and this. 
work will be welcomed by all who are interested 
in the practical and theoretical problems of the 
atmosphere. RaiG: 
In- 
FIRST AID ON THE FARM. 
Veterinary Studies for Agricultural Students. By 
Prof. M. H. Reynolds. Pp. xix+290. (New 
York: The Macmillan Co. ; London: Macmillan 
and Co., Ltd., 1910.) 7s. 6d. net. 
T is no easy task to write a useful work on 
elementary veterinary science for laymen, for 
we venture to say that in no other science does 
the old proverb apply so obviously, viz., “A little 
knowledge is dangerous.” We must candidly 
; admit, however, that the task has been admirably 
accomplished by the author of the work under 
review. That the work should have run_ into 
seven editions in seven years speaks for itself. 
Roughly speaking, the book is divided into six 
sections, viz.: Anatomy and Physiology, Patho- 
logy, Causes and Prevention of Disease, Infec- 
tious Diseases, Non-infectious Diseases, and 
Obstetrics. The bearing of the earlier sections on 
the later ones is obvious, for one must of necessity 
be able to recognise the normal conditions before 
being able to detect departures from the normal. 
The author rightly sounds a note of warning 
against ‘“‘the blind home-dosing of stock to which 
farmers and stockmen are very much inclined,” 
and frequently in the course of the book he warns 
the owners for their own sakes not to attempt 
treatment of any other than the simpler ailments. 
On the other hand, where skilled veterinary assis- 
tance is not available, the information given in 
may be of very great service. The 
disinfection and ventilation are 
this book 
chapters 
especially good. 
It would be a very remarkable book indeed in 
which no faults could be found, and the criticisms 
we offer are in the hope that they may be borne 
} in mind when another edition is called for. On 
on 
