Writer's Studies Research Articles

Preliminary note on the origin of the permanent magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth

The writer's studies of the effects produced by ions as they are caused to execute long free‐paths and spiral about an impressed magnetic field by thermal agitation have led to interesting conclusions regarding the magnetic condition of the Sun and Earth. Such long free‐path phenomena take place only in the rarified atmosphere of the bodies. A calculation of the currents flowing in the atmosphere of the Sun and Earth as‐a result of an observed radial inhomogeneity in the magnetic field shows that the currents are inadequate to account for the observed magnetic moments, even though they flow in the correct direction.A further study of the effects produced by ions moving under thermal agitation in a magnetic field and executing short free‐paths has led to a group of phenomena which are of great interest in the problem of the origin of the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth. Ion‐drifts which can give rise to currents have been found to result under the following conditions: (a) When a magnetic gradient exists which has a component perpendicular to the impressed magnetic field; (b) when an electric or gravitational field exists which has a component perpendicular to the impressed magnetic field. In each case the direction of the ion‐drift is at right‐angles to both the magnetic field and the gradient.

Divergent Soil Reaction Preferences of Related Plants

That pairs of closely related plants may differ markedly in soil-reaction preference has long been recognized by European ecologists, beginning with Kerner (1869), although before the development of modern theories of reaction these were classed as calcicoles or calciphiles on the one hand, and oxylophytes or calciphobes on the other. The best summary of the earlier work is that by Warming ('o9). Atkins ('22) reported the results of actual reaction tests on such pairs in England. The presence of similar pairs of species in North America has been pointed out by Fernald ('07, '14, 'i6), but many American ecologists seem to have ignored this fact, and have stated or implied that in studies of the relation of plants to environmental conditions precise identification of species or varieties is unnecessary. Early in the course of the writer's studies on the relation of soil reaction to plant distribution in eastern North America it became evident that careful discrimination of species, varieties, etc., is essential, since sets of closely related plants showing divergent soil-reaction preferences prove to be not infrequent in this country. Some of these have already been referred to by the writer ('I8, '20-I, '20-2, '20-3, '21-1, '21-2, '22-I, '24, '25-2, '26-I, and '26-2), but in the present paper they are discussed more fully, and attention is called to a number of additional ones, upon all of which it has been possible to carry out enough soil-reaction tests for their allocation to be reasonably certain. In all, thirty groups are covered. The soil-reaction terms used are those previously proposed (Wherry, 'i9, '22-3), although it seems well to simplify their application somewhat, as follows ('26-3):

Simple Methods of Rearing Wireworms (Elateridae)

It is the purpose of this paper to record a few successful and simple methods of rearing one of the most difficult groups of insects with which the economic entomologist has to deal, namely wireworms of the family Elateridae. The writer's studies and experiences been confined mostly to two species, Ludius noxius Hyslop and Pheletes occidentalis Candeze of Washington State, but since these two species exist under a great variety of conditions from very dry to very wet, it is felt that the suggestions regarding methods and rearing here given can be adapted for other species in other sections.

The Mechanics of the Glacial Anticyclone Illustrated by Experiment

IN various publications issued during the past decade1 the present writer has treated the peculiar air circulation which obtains above a continental glacier. A number of well-known writers, among them Sir John Murray and Buchan, had early pointed out that essentially anticyclonic conditions obtained over the Antarctic region as a region, but without reference to any connection with the continental glacier; while the late Admiral Peary was the first to note the dominance of centrifugal surface-currents over the Greenland continental glacier,2 which important observation was the starting point of the writer's studies.

The Illinois Oil Fields

History Illinois has so recently attained the third place in the oil production of theUnited States that few realize its great importance, or are aware of its highlyprofitable character. Since 1907 Illinois has furnished about 15 per cent. ofthe United States output and about 10 per cent of the world's production. Thevalue of the output in 1913 is estimated at $30,000,000, of which about$20,000,000 is profit. The present prosperity dates from 1905, but efforts havebeen made since 1865 to develop production and geologists have been verysanguine as to its future for over 25 years. Had the oil operators been asconfident as the geologists, the field would have been opened at least 30 yearsearlier. For the rich Eastern Illinois oil field is located along the La Salleanticline, that was mapped 46 years ago by Professor Worthen in the firstgeological survey of the State. Prof. T. B. Comstock enthusiastically wrote in18872 about the highly promising character of this anticline, to which he againcalled attention in 1889. The writer's studies in 1888 were convincing as to its oil future, yet to havethen advocated drilling would have earned the reputation of being a dreamer. Infact, as late as 1903 the writer's suggestion to a prominent Pittsburg oiloperator to prospect in Illinois met with contempt and derision, which wasrepresentative of the general feeling then held by the oil fraternity, yet thissame party made a large fortune four years later out of a block of Illinois oilleases. The first commercial wells were brought in at Litchfield, 50 miles northeast ofSt. Louis, where in 1882, in drilling for coal, gas was discovered thatsupplied the town several years. Later, some oil wells were brought in thatuntil 1902 produced a lubricating oil that sold for $5 a barrel. In 1887, at Sparta, 40 miles southeast of St. Louis, in drilling for water, gaswas discovered that supplied the town about 20 years, and in 1906 several oilwells were brought in half a mile northeast of the gas wells. In 1890, in drilling for water, gas was discovered near Pittsfield, in Pikecounty, that later developed into a field over 10 miles long. The present highly prosperous era dates from 1904, when a small gas well wasdrilled near Casey, in Clark county, by J. J. Hoblitzell, who was induced toprospect at Oilfield on the showing of oil and gas made by some old wells thathad been drilled in 1865 by Chicago parties. The latter drilled several wellson the evidence of oil and gas seepages, but, although a little was found, thewells were a failure from not casing off the water; i.e., they were drownedout. Several more small wells were brought in, but they were so discouragingthat they failed to interest the scouts that flocked in when leases were only$5 to $10 an acre. When a 40-barrel well was subsequently brought in, the"talent" promptly scurried after leases, which rapidly advanced to $100to $200 an acre, and since then the Eastern Illinois field has rapidlydeveloped along the La Salle anticline. AIME 048–46