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



2325. Hurst, C. T., and J. E. Greaves. Some factors influencing the quantitative deter- 

 mination of chlorides in soil. Soil Sci. 9: 41-51. 1920. — A soil extract is obtained by filtering 

 through a Pasteur-Chamberland filter or by the use of alum and the chlorides determined by 

 the method given in detail. — W. J. Robbins. 



2326. Robinson, R. H. Concerning the effect of heat on the reaction between lime-water 

 and acid soils. Soil Sci. 9 : 151-157. 1920.— The length of time of heating and the temperature 

 used during the process of evaporation affects the lime requirement of acid soils as determined 

 by the Veitch method. Variations in the lime requirement of a soil from 1300 pounds per 

 acre when evaporation occurred in 2.5 hours at 70° to 4600 pounds per acre where evaporation 

 occurred at 110° in 8 hours were found. — W. J. Robbins. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



2327. Call, L. E. Director's report. Kansas Agric. Exp. Sta. 1917-1S. 63 p. 1918 — 

 See Bot. Absts. 5, Entries 1466, 2024. 



2328. Jovino, S. Osservazioni suH'aridocoltura italiana. [Observations upon dry farm- 

 ing in Italy.] Staz. Sperim. Agrarie Italiane 52: 69-121. 125-192. 1919.— A lengthy study of 

 the subject divided in the following way: (1) the climate of the arid regions of Italy, (2) 

 the soil of the arid regions of Italy, (3) biological characteristics of Italian dry farming, (4) 

 the function of fallowing in Italy, (5) the critical period in the spring, (6) the summer crit- 

 ical period, (7) means of favoring the evolution of the present cultural conditions. In this 

 paper are studied the adaptations of plants to the conditions of the arid regions: low soil- 

 water content, high temperature and strong illumination. A lengthy abstract of this paper 

 with special emphasis on the technical side is to be found in Monthly Bull. Internation. Instit. 

 Agric. Rome 10 5 : 522-526. 1919. (English edition.)— A. Bonazzi. 



2329. Hodsoll, H. E. P. The care of the soil. Jour. Roy. Hortic Soc. 45: 22-28. 1919. 

 — /. K. Shaiv. 



2330. Howard, A., and G. L. C. Report of the Imperial Economic Botanists. Sci. Rept. 

 Agric. Res. Inst. Pusa 1918-19: 46-67. PI. 5 and 6. 1919.— See Bot. Absts. 5, Entry 1159. 



2331. Middleton, Howard E. The moisture equivalent in relation to the mechanical 

 analysis of soils. Soil Sci. 9 : 159-167. 1 fig. 1920. — The maximum percentage of water which 

 a soil can retain in opposition to a force equal to 1000 times that of gravity (the moisture equiv- 

 alent) was compared with the mechanical analyses. The relation between the percentage of 

 sand, silt and clay and the moisture equivalent was found to be 0.063 sand-f 0.291 ailt+0.426 

 clay = moisture equivalent. The presence of considerable organic matter increases the mois- 

 ture equivalent and disturbs the above relation. — W. J. Robbins. 



2332. Powers, W. L. Duty of water in irrigation. Oregon Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 161. 

 20 p., 1 fig. 1920. — Proper economical irrigation is necessary to permanent irrigative agricul- 

 ture. By saving 50 per cent of the water now used in many places, it will be possible to double 

 the crop producing area. The economical use and duty of irrigation water depend upon a wide 

 variety of conditions of culture, method of distributing and handling of the water, types of 

 crops produced, and environment. Soil fertility is one of the most important factors af- 

 fecting irrigation requirements, for it is frequently possible to double the returns from each 

 unit of water supplied by applying needed simple fertilizers. At times one ton of manure 

 may equal 100 tons of water in securing returns. Irrigation farming reaches its highest 

 development in connection with intensive farming. In general it is better economy to pro- 

 vide only a moderate allowance of water with reasonably priced structures than to provide 

 a liberal supply at a great expense and invite additional drainage assessments later. — E. J. 

 Kraus. 



