THE EFFECT OF TOLUOL AND CS2 UPON THE 
MICRO-FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE SOIL? 
BY P. L. GAINEY. 
The work herein presented was undertaken to determine 
whether the theory advanced by Russell and Hutchinson 
(1) was adequate to explain the phenomena subsequent to 
“partial sterilization” when applied to local soils. As is 
well-known, this theory rests upon the destruction of proto- 
zoa that inhibit the maximum development of soil bacteria 
and hence prevent the rendering of soil nitrogen available. 
Certain results obtained have been of such a nature that the 
writer feels justified in bringing them before the public. 
This is done with the hope that investigations along the 
same lines by others may either controvert or substantiate 
the facts herein presented. These investigations are by no 
means complete, and hence this paper is more of the nature 
of a preliminary report. 
The recent appearance of Fred’s (2) article, in which 
an excellent review of most of the literature bearing upon 
the subject was given, renders a complete historical résumé 
unnecessary, hence only a summary of the more important 
contributions will be given. Readers are referred to the 
article just mentioned for a more complete review. 
The evidence brought forth thus far as to the effects of 
“partial sterilization” upon the microérganisms of the soil 
has, with one or two exceptions, been very fragmentary. 
Most investigators have concerned themselves with the 
effects of such treatment upon crop production. However, 
the writer has been able to glean from the literature the 
following expressions regarding such treatment upon the 
more important soil phenomena. 
1Abstracted from a thesis presented to the Faculty of Washington 
University, in candidacy for the degree of Master of Arts, June, 1911. 
(147) 
rr dt. 
