Miscellaneous Intelligence. 471 



the prosecution of the work. These include chiefly the range of 

 temperature during the different seasons of the year, and still 

 more the amount and distribution of the rainfall ; full details with 

 numerous tables are given in both these directions. In connec- 

 tion with the latter subject, the hydraulic problems involved in 

 the regulation of the Chagres River are discussed at length, and 

 with the same thoroughness which characterizes the other parts 

 of the work. The conclusion is reached that although the matter 

 presents serious difficulties, they are not greater than those that 

 have been met with elsewhere, and that "all that is required is a 

 judicious plan of regulation based on well-established principles." 

 With respect to the question that has arisen between a sea-level 

 canal and one provided with a series of locks, the author speaks 

 very emphatically in favor of the latter, on general grounds, as 

 also because of the economy in time and money. 



3. A Primer of Forestry. Part II, Practical Forestry * by 

 Gtfford Pinchot, Forester. 88 pp., 12mo, Washington, 1905 

 (Bulletin No. 24, Part II, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of 

 Forestry). — This little book, like its predecessor, presents the 

 practical problems of forestry in most clear and attractive form. 

 Indeed, brief as it is, the subject is put before the reader so con- 

 clusively that it seems difficult to understand why scientific 

 methods are not everywhere employed in dealing with nature's 

 effort to provide humanity with a lasting supply of useful woods, 

 instead of the short-sighted policy so common in this country. 

 The situation has improved materially since the Department of 

 Forestry was organized, and greater progress through the enlight- 

 enment of the public is promised for the future. 



4. Field Operations of the Bureau of /Soils, 1903. Fifth 

 Report. By Milton Whitney, Chief, with accompanying papers 

 by assistants in charge of field parties. 1310 pp., with 3 plates, 

 61 text figures and 78 maps in separate portfolio case. Wash- 

 ington, 1904 (IT. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soils). 

 — During the season of 1903, a total area of 26,543 square miles 

 was surveyed and mapped by the various parties of the Bureau 

 of Soils ; this was divided over 61 separate areas, averaging 437 

 square miles each, in 37 states and territories. The detailed 

 results of this extensive work are contained in these volumes 

 recently given to the public. 



5. Mechanism • by S. Dunkeelet. 408 pp. New York and 

 London, 1905 (Longmans, Green & Co.). — This book, while not 

 designed to be a philosophical treatise on pure mechanism, is val- 

 uable for its many and modern applications of various machines. 

 The first two chapters, including the introductory one, discuss 

 the simpler types of machines and shop appliances, as well 

 as combinations of belting and gearing. The more complete 

 study of gearing and gear teeth is left to a later chapter. The 

 geometrical properties of mechanism are next taken up with 

 machines whose interest lies particularly in the paths traced by 

 their parts. Steam engine indicators are conspicuous examples 



