92 KKI'UHT OF IHE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCtf 



Poly gala arillata; the bark of the roots afforded a decoction, 

 the antiseptic properties of which are now under examin- 

 ation. 



Biological Analysis of Soils. — 



Reh Soils. — Samples of " Reh " soil received from the 

 Agricultural Chemist to the Government of the Punjab 

 were under biological examination and formed a subject 

 of study for Mr. Barkat Ali, a student from the Punjab 

 who is undergoing training in soil bacteriology in -his 

 section. Several interesting facts were discovered as to 

 the effect of lixiviation upon the flora of these soils, and 

 the conclusion was arrived at that the normal processes of 

 ammonification, nitrification and nitrogen fixation would 

 be the natural consequence of removal of the excess of salts 

 from the soil by this means; Mr. Barkat Ali has furnished 

 an excellent report upon his work which encourages the 

 belief that a well trained chemist can acquire sufficient 

 knowledge of the methods of biological analysis as prac- 

 tised in this laboratory to enable him to carry out such 

 work satisfactorily without excessive supervision after a 

 two years' course of instruction. 



Biological analyses of soils from Cawnpore, Smd, 

 Assam and Nepal were carried out and reports upon them 

 furnished; the method used is still under revision owing 

 to the necessity for variation in accordance with the char- 

 acter of the soil and the information desired. 



V. — Programme ob work eor 1914-15. 



Major Subjects. 



(1) Nitrification. 



(2) Nitrogen fixation. 



(3) Biological Analysis of soils. 



(4) Investigation of effects of management upon 



the constitution of the Soil Complex. 



(5) Green Manure experiments. 



