JuNFi 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
861 
Tlie ninount of nitrogen frnind in this 
drainage water has been cavt'l'ully dster- 
inined and calculated into the equivalent 
of nitrate of soda and the resultfi have been 
tabulated as follows : — 
AVERAGE RK.iULTS OF THB UMSFALL AND DRMNAOEAT 
BOTii ursTKD FOB 20 YF,Aii3, 1877-78 to 180(5 97. 
.5W 
o 5; 
P5 
Septombet 
October 
November 
IJeoember 
January 
Febrnary 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August 
Harvest ycr.r 
luches. Inches. Iiuhes. lb. 
. 2-C3 104 1-59 25-0 
. 3 33 2 07 1-31 40'7 
. 3 14 2-41 0 73 4 3 
. 2 42 1-95 0 17 23 5 
. 2-04 1G7 037 1G4 
. I'Jf) 1-.5.5 040 157 
. 1S3 1-00 0'83 9-4 
. 4:89 -52 1 37 63 
217 ■S.S l■.^9 7 2 
. 2 33 -61 1-72 7-9 
. 2. SO '73 2 07 ' 13 3 
. 2',)i -87 2 07 18 4 
. 29-i7 lo 00 14 57 2241 
It will bo noticed that the losses nf nitrog-en 
during the winter month.s from .September 
to February, average 161'6 lb. nitrate of soda, 
or 72-1 per' cent of the entire average losses 
of the year. 
From these figures it will be understood 
that after continuous rainfall the soil becomes 
tempomi ili/ impoverished, and consequently iu 
need of readily available plant food. 
These rem.arks will have special applica- 
tion to a climate like thnt of Oeylon where 
there is a heavy annual rainfall, and to plan- 
tations like those of tea, colfee, and cacao, 
which are kept constantly under cultivation 
and free from weeds. 
JOHN HUGHES, F.I.C. 
Analytical Lalioratory, 
7,}, Mark Lane, London, E.C., April 21,1899. 
SUNSl'OTS, CYCbKS .\NDrilK MONSOON. 
Ill his paper on "recent science" iu llic 
Nhic.tcoilk Centuri/, Prince Kropolkin writes :— 
It is now certain that ihi number and the size 
of the dark spots which we see on the surface of 
the sun arc in some way connected with the weather 
which we have on tlio earth. Charles Meldrum, Sir 
Norinan Lockyor, tlio Indian meteorologists, and 
ebpooinlly Dr. VV. Kiippcn in his groat work, have 
proved that there a certain periodicity in tho 
temptTature, the rainfall, the nunibur of cyclones, 
iVc, which corresponils to the cloven years' periodi- 
city years) iu tho number of sunapcts. How- 
ever, the amount of variation which may l)e due to 
this cause is so small in compnri.^on with tl)o non- 
poriodical irregularities of weather ihat it is often 
masked and oblitciatod by tlicin. IMoreovcr — to say 
nothing of the connection wliich exists between tho 
Bun-spots' period and the niagnotieal forces in our 
atniosphoro - the whole matter, ati lias boon shown 
by I'oli^, is more complicated than it seemed to bo 
at tirot sight. It appears that when the sunspuls 
aro at a niiuiuium, mild winters and hot siiiniMots 
prevail, while cold winters aud oool sunimora seem 
to characterise the maximum periods of tho sun- 
spots ; while Mr. A. MoDowall points out that not 
only the seasons and fractiong of the year, but 
different days as well, must be treated separately in 
all discussions upon the influence of the sunspots' 
periods. Years of sui spots' maxim', are, in his opinion, 
years when the nior.th'y and daily extremes of tem- 
perature are greater a rule. In short, our weather 
is undoubtedly influe;:ced by the eleven years' 
periodical variation of the Sun's radiation which is 
indicated by the sunspots. But this influence is only 
now studied in aaoh detail as to bo taken into con- 
sideration in weather predictions. Another weather 
period, which perhaps has not yet bean taken snfHoient 
notice of, is the thirty-Svo years' period discovered 
by tho Sv/iss professor, Ed. Briickuer. , A number 
of other periodicities of weather is also under con- 
sideration. Such are tho 19 years' period so forcibly 
advocated by H. C. Hiissel for Australia, aud corre- 
sponding to the wall-known period of 23.5 lunar months ; 
the seven years' period discovered in America by 
Murphy, and three shorter periods of 424, 412, and 
11'9 indicated by Lampreoht ; the 20 7 days' periodicity 
in pressure and temperature noticed by Professor 
Bigelow. which wculd corre?;pond to the period of 
rotation of the sun ; the 5J days' period detected 
at the Blue Hill OV,s6rvatory ; and so on. And finally 
there are the cold waves spreading every year in 
May, and the no less than six cold and three warm 
periods recurring every year in Europs, and indicated 
years ago by the veter:in Scotch meteorologist, Mr. 
Buchan. The first-long period forecasts were made 
in India, on tho basis of a. few empirical sequences 
suggested by Henry P. Blanford. Tho whole life 
of India depends upon the timely beginning of the 
rainy season, its perseverance and its timely end. 
Consequently, it was a vital question to be able to 
foretell the coming and the general character of the 
monsoon which brings rains with it. This was begun 
by H. F. Blanford, and in tho hands of his successor, 
Mr. Eliot, the seasonal forecasts, which are now 
issued semi-annually, become every year more rational 
and trustworthy. In India, owing to its tropical posi- 
tion, the seasonal changes of weather, which depend 
upon the general circulation of the atmosphere, are 
far more important than the irregular non-periodical 
changes upon which weather depends in Europe ; and 
this circumstance facilitates the task of the forecaster. 
Still it took years of study before the various causes 
influencing the monsoons became known ; but now- 
the Indian meteorologists can foretell, as a rule, iu 
the first week of June when the rainy south-west 
monsoon is expected to come, what will be its probable 
strength and general charactsr, and what is the 
probability of that break in tho rains in July aud 
August which is so important for the crops. They 
also foretell tho general character of the winter 
monsoon, but they find it difficult to prophesy when 
the rainy season will come to an end, although its 
early termination, being fatal to some crops, may 
result in a famine. 
WATEKFALLS FOR SALE, 
To liie Editor of the Spectator. 
Sir, — iMei!il)ers of the I>er>;ens Polylekniskc 
Forofiiii^^ would bo very thankful for iidvicu frnni 
yon wlioMi to Miiilrcsf* or where to write in Jjondon 
for sale of wnteif.illH for iniinstrial use. \V'e can 
oiler powels, of 100—600—1,000 np to uiica iS.OOO 
horse-puwm. •j/Vw^aicing iyowi" good news, I am, 
sir, .;; : ii' • ! : : i 
Bergen, Apill lOtb. li. l''Al.Ki;sUMiO. 
[ The above Idler is so enrioim aa example of 
the coming inipoi lrtiioc. of waterfaltM li.s proHdOers 
of iniluslrinl power Uiftt wo jilaea it l^eforc onr 
renders. We i-'wr, however, i lini tliefc are .n \ ct 
no reguhu- walorfiill brukei'a to be fonnd in Loiulou, 
