105 
THE ORIGIN OF FIORDS. 
O. NORDENSKIOLD contributes some ‘ Topo- 
graphisch-geologische Studien in Fjordgebeiten’ 
(Bull. Geol. Inst. Univ. Upsala, 1V., 1899, pp. 
157-226, 1 pl., 14 fig.), based on observations 
of fiords and on representations of their form 
by maps, soundings, ete. He finds normal or 
radial fiords (West Greenland, New Zealand), 
parallel fiords (Alaska, Patagonia), and com- 
bined forms (Norway). Fiords always occur in 
groups or systems. Their bottom is uneven, 
with deep basins and shallow swells. They 
are from 5 to 40 times longer than broad ; they 
are enclosed by steep and high walls of strong 
rock. Their distribution shows that they stand 
in some relation to glaciers: glacial erosion of 
preglacial valleys best accounts for most fea- 
tures. 
This inductive study furnishes many excel- 
lent descriptions of typical examples and a 
series of well-supported conclusions as to the 
prevalent features of fiords. In attempting 
explanation, the inductive method seems in- 
sufficient ; a fuller consideration of what might 
be expected from long-lasting, vigorous glacial 
erosion is desirable ; for unless the forms reason- 
ably deduced from such a consideration match 
the observed forms, the theory of the glacial 
origin of fiords would be seriously at fault. 
It is perhaps because of the greater emphasis 
here given to the inductive than to the deduc- 
tive part of the investigation that the discordant 
depths of confluent fiords are insufficiently ex- 
plained, and that the important subject of 
hanging valleys, recently discussed by several 
observers, here receives no sufficient mention. 
VIEWS OF THE COLORADO CANON. 
‘GuimpseEs of the Grand Cation of the Colo- 
rado,’ is the title of a portfolio of 13 colored 
plates published by Thayer, of Denver, Colo. 
It may be ‘a fact that under certain conditions 
the cafion presents the marvelous colorings 
herein reproduced,’ but such conditions are al- 
together exceptional; and the actual colorings 
under ordinary conditions are so strong and 
fine that there is no warrant for a resort in all 
the views to the exaggerated effects of a rare 
sunset. Not only are the reds too vivid, but 
the greens are those of a pluvial, not of an arid 
SCIENCE. 
[N.S. Vox. XIII. No. 339. 
climate. The colored views of the cafion pub- 
lished by the Detroit Photographic Company 
from photographs by Jackson are on the whole 
to be preferred, not only from being more 
faithful and delicate but as well from being 
free from the distraction of more or less ir- 
relevant poetical quotations with which the 
Thayer views are prefaced. 
KABA VOLCANO, SUMATRA. 
AN entertaining account of the ascent of 
Kaba, a volcano in Sumatra, is given by Hagen 
(‘Eine Besteigung des Vulkans Kaba auf 
Sumatra,’ Globus, LX XIX., 1901, 245-250, 267— 
273). The illustrations from original photo- 
graphs are remarkably well reproduced and ex- 
hibit the crater forms with unusual success. As 
in the ‘curbs’ or storm lines on a beach, so 
here, the existing craters represent the succes- 
sive weakening maxima in irregular series of 
eruptions, all the minima being destroyed ex- 
cept the last. 
W. M. Davis. 
CURRENT NOTES ON METEOROLOGY. 
WEATHER AND CROPS IN SAXONY. 
AN elaborate investigation into the relation 
of weather conditions and crop yield in Saxony, 
based on data for the period 1864-1897, leads to 
rather unsatisfactory results (Grohmann : ‘ Die 
phanologischen Beobachtungen der Jahre 1864 
bis 1897, und die Ernteertrage im Konigreich 
Sachsen in ihrer Abhangigkeit yon den Wit- 
terungsverhaltnissen,’ Chemnitz, 1901). The 
various districts of Saxony are divided into 
three groups, and the results for these groups 
show striking agreement in comparatively few 
cases only. On the whole, it appears that 
there is a larger yield of winter grain in 
warm and dry than in cold and wet years. 
An influence of weather conditions upon the 
yield of summer grain cannot be demon- 
strated in many districts, and the only fact 
which does come out clearly is that a greater 
amount of moisture is necessary in order to pro- 
duce a large crop of summer grain than a large 
crop of winter grain. In some cases an in- 
fluence of higher spring temperatures upon the 
summer crop is indicated. Potatoes succeed 
best in years with warm summers and normal 
