374 
one-half or even one-third. It is not generally 
known that this country holds the record for a 
long-distance voyage. 
On July 1, 1859, La Mountain and three 
others sailed from St. Louis, Mo., to Hender- 
son, N. Y., 870 miles in nineteen hours. Such 
constancy and velocity of air currents is seldom 
thought of and could have been found only, as 
in this case, at a height of 6,000 to 8,000 feet. 
The balloon route would seem the ideal 
method of reaching the Pole and the French 
are already planning for such a voyage in 1898. 
Let them first bring their balloon to this country 
and make the Atlantic voyage in the track of 
steamers where the least untoward event will 
not be absolutely fatal. Also, by all means, 
let the balloon be placed at a height of at least 
6,000 feet. It is just as easy to keep a balloon 
there as close to the earth. At Mt. Washing- 
ton (6,300 feet) there have been frequent cases 
of west winds of 100 miles and over per hour 
for 36 hours, and this would mean less than 40 
hours for the trip. 
Of course, the great question is as to the oc- 
currence of storm and high-area conditions at 
the Pole similar to those in more southerly lati- 
tudes, and the evidence from weather maps 
made near the Pole seems to show a great simi- 
larity. If so, any steady wind near the Pole 
would give a straight course to the Pole and 
the same wind would give a straight course 
back to civilization. It is a pity that with 
so much interest centered in this enterprise 
there should be so many fakes of carrier 
pigeons, etc., started. It is very rare, indeed, 
that a carrier has been known to fly 1,000 
miles and then only after being taken over 
some part of the course half a dozen times. 
For a carrier to go 1,500 or 2,000 miles is an 
unheard-of feat. 
H. A. HAZEN. 
AvuGustT 21, 1897. 
SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. 
Agriculture in Some of its Relations with Chem- 
istry. By F. H. Srorer. New York, 
Charles Seribner’s Sons. 1897. Pp. 1901. 
$5.00. 
The new edition of Storer’s ‘Agriculture’ is 
in three volumes; it is accompanied by a very 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Voz. VI. No. 140. 
full and well-arranged index, which adds to its 
value as a reference work. The author is mod- 
est in his title, for not only is agriculture dealt 
with in its relations to chemistry, but very 
largely in its relations to the allied sciences, 
physics, physiology, botany and zoology. 
For example, the contents of Volume I. in- 
clude thirteen chapters, and in the first six the 
relations of physics and plant physiology to 
agriculture are discussed quite as fully as are 
the relations of chemistry in the remaining 
chapters. In Chapter III. ‘ Relations of Water 
to the Soil’ is discussed, and in Chapter IV., 
‘Movement of Water in the Soil ;’’? Chapter V. 
is devoted to a study of the principles of ‘ Til- 
lage,’ and Chapter VI., ‘Implements and Ope- 
rations of Tillage.’ In these branches chem- 
istry is not the primary science involved. In 
Chapter I. ‘The General Influence of Soil and 
Air to the Plant’ is treated, and in Chapter II., 
‘The Atmosphere as a Source of Plant Food.’ 
In the discussion of these subjects the impor- 
tance of the relations of plant physiology are | 
fully recognized. 
I note the above in order to show the general 
scope of the work; it is not limited to a setting 
forth of the relations of chemistry, as it could 
not well be and give a broad view of scientific 
agriculture. 
That the author regards the question of ma- 
nure to be of very great importance is shown 
by the elaboration of the various topics en- 
tered into, especially concerning the sources of 
supply, the modes of action and methods of us- 
ing the various products. Seventeen chapters, 
seven in Volume I. and ten in Volume II., ag- 
gregating over 750 pages, are devoted to this 
one branch of scientific agriculture, and in 
which chemistry is the primary science in- 
volved. 
His method of treating of the artificial fer- 
tilizers is worthy of particular mention. Not 
only is the theoretical consideration concern- 
ing the composition and character of the various 
fertilizing materials and their modes of action 
given, but numerous experiments from leading 
authorities are cited, thus putting before the 
student the original source of the information; 
a point often greatly desired by those who have 
not had a broad training in these lines, and 
