140 SOIL SCIENCE [Bot. Absts., Vol. V, 



997. Jones, D. H., and F. G. Murdock. Quantitative and qualitative bacterial analysis 

 of soil samples taken in fall of 1918. Soil Sci. 8: 259-267. 1919. — A surface and sub-surface 

 sample of 46 soils representing 17 soil types in eastern Ontario were examined for total bac- 

 terial and mold counts on Brown's albumen agar, liquefier counts on a nutrient gelatine and 

 Azotobacter, Ps. radicicola and Nocardia counts on a modified Ashby's agar. Only 3 samples 

 had a very low total count. Azotobacter were found in 9 out of the 17 soil types and were 

 absent in the light sandy soils and peat muck and shale types. Every soil type except yellow 

 sand had fairly high numbers of Ps. radicicola and the sub-surface samples had a higher 

 content than the surface samples. Molds were fairly uniform in numbers in all soils except 

 a sandy clay loam and sand}' clay shale in which they were absent. Nocardia were least 

 numerous in sand but much alike in numbers in loams, peat mucks and shales. — William J. 

 Robbins. 



998. Waksman, Selman A. Cultural studies of species of Actinomyces. Soil Sci. 8: 

 71-215. 4 pl- 1919. — The morphology, cultural characteristics and biochemical features of 

 41 species of Actinomyces are described and compared. A note is given on the habitat of 

 each species. The cultural characteristics for each species include those on 13 or 14 different 

 solid and liquid media. The utilization of different carbon or nitrogen compounds is also 

 included in some cases. The biochemical features include nitrite formation, proteolytic 

 action, change of reaction, inversion of sugar, diastatic action and growth on cellulose. 

 Nearly all the Actinomyces studied reduce nitrates to nitrites and show diastatic and proteo- 

 lytic activities. Most of the species studied grow on cellulose and half of them invert sugar. 

 A key for the identification of the species based chiefly on biochemical characteristics is 

 presented. — William J. Robbins. 



FERTILIZATION 



999. Calvino, M. La fertilidad de la tierra y los abonos. III. El estiercol y los otros 

 abonos organicos. [Manure and other organic fertilizers.] Revist. Agric. Com. y Trab. 2: 

 540-543. 1 fig. 1919. — Largely a translation of an article by Gino Beccabi of the University 

 of Pisa.— F. M. Blodgett. 



1000. Calvino, Mario. La fertilidad de la tierra y los abonos. [The fertility of the soil 

 and fertilizers.] Revist. Agric. Com. y Trab. 2: 501-503. 1919. 



1001. Jones, Joseph. Manurial experiments with cacao in Dominica. West Indian Bull. 

 16:342-353. 1918. — Reports results of plot experiments with various fertilizers. — C. V. Piper. 



1002. Sampson, H. C. Some factors which influence yield of paddy in comparative manur- 

 ial experiments at the Manganallur Agricultural Station. Agric. Jour. India 14: 739-746. 

 1919. — Experimental errors in field experiments are discussed, and the advantages and dis- 

 advantages of 1 year and long time fertilizer experiments given. No experimental data is 

 given. — /. /. Skinner. 



METHODS 



1003. Bbackett, R. N., and H. F. Haskins. Report on nitrogen. Jour. Assoc. Official 

 Agric. Chem. 3 : 207-217. 1919. — In the zinc-ferrous sulf ate-soda method for nitrates the re- 

 sults of the different workers are too variable. The chief difficulty in the method lies in the 

 distillation with the use of glass wool in the neck of the flask. Further work was recommended 

 in the case of water-insoluble organic nitrogen. The Jones and Street method has been shown 

 to be useful for distinguishing between good and bad organic ammoniates. Some difficulties 

 in the method however are yet to be overcome. Results obtained with the Kjeldahl-Gunning- 

 Arnold method using copper sulfate in lieu of oxide of mercury and with oxide of mercury 

 alone, were very satisfactory, there being a good agreement and practically no difference in 

 the averages. The oxide of mercury seems to be a little more effective and rapid in its cata- 



