No. 1, November, 1921] SOIL SCIENCE 53 



of the crop was first attributed to the "wilt" disease, but no evidence of bacterial or fungous 

 infection has been obtained. The theory is put forward that the failure of indigo is due to 

 lack of soluble phosphate in the soils. Low fertility or failure of crops can, in most cases, 

 be correlated with an abnormally low content of available phosphate in the soils. Available 

 phosphate is exceptionally low in the sub-soil and as indigo is a deep rooting plant, the lack 

 of such nutrient material is manifested in the wilting or dying out of the indigo plant after 

 the 1st cutting. Although Java indigo seed cannot now be grown at factories in Bihar, very 

 good crops have been obtained in soils outside Bihar, particularly in Assam. In every case 

 where Java indigo produces seed the soil has been found to be exceptionally rich in available 

 phosphate. In many cases outside Bihar, the rainfall is excessive (150 inches) and the lands 

 frequently get water-logged, but this has not prevented high yields of Java indigo plant and 

 seeds. "Wilt" is most prevalent in Bihar on the highest, lightest and best drained soils; 

 this is attributed to the low content of plant food which they contain. The soil responds 

 generally to superphosphate, Java indigo at Dalsing Sarai increasing 50 per cent in the 1st 

 cuttings and 100 per cent in the 2nd. In many cases the Tirhoot soils are also low in organic 

 matter and treatment with green manure, such as sann hemp, is necessar}^ before they respond 

 to superphosphate. — B. M. Amin. 



316. DuLEY, F. L., AND M. F. Miller. The effect of a varying supply of nutrients upon the 

 character and composition of the maize plant at different periods of growth. Missouri Agric. 

 Exp. Sta. Res. Bull. 42. 66 p. 1921. — Corn plants were grown in washed quartz sand with 

 nutrient solutions. A standard Pfeffer's nutrient solution was used as the optimum nutrient 

 and a solution -^ this strength as the minimum nutrient. Fourteen different treatments 

 were used, each in duplicate, including all possible combinations of the 2 solutions, applied 

 in the three 30-day periods of the life of the plants. — The 2nd period v/as by far the most impor- 

 tant in the production of vegetative parts. Ear production was confined to the 3rd period. 

 A low supply of nutrient, particularly during the last period, was conducive to increased root 

 growth. Optimum nutrient during the 3rd period largely determined ear production, though 

 fair ears were produced when a copious supply of mineral nutrients was present at the end of 

 the 2nd period and when the minimum nutrient was used in the 3rd period. The percentage 

 of nitrogen and potassium in the plants was approximately proportional to the supply of nutri- 

 ents during the last period, while the percentage of phosphorus was much less influenced by 

 variation in the nutrient supply. The proportion of total nitrogen of the plant contained in 

 the roots increased whenever the minimum nutrient was applied. In the most fully developed 

 plants the proportion of potassium in the roots was increased during the 3rd period. Mini- 

 mum nutrient supply allowed a greater proportional storage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and 

 potassium in the roots than did optimum nutrient. — A review of the literature and a bibliog- 

 raphy of 20 titles are included. — L. J. Stadler. 



317. HuDiG, J. Wat kan hat landbouwkundig onderzoek duen voor de droog te leggen 

 Zuiderzee [What can agricultural research accomplish for future drained lands of the Zuider- 

 zee?] Cultura 33: 151-154. 1 fig. 1921. — When the new lands are deprived of the sea water 

 from the Zuiderzee, and influenced by the atmosphere, many changes will take place in the 

 soil; a knowledge of these will be of great importance for agriculture. The soils will vary 

 from heavy clay to sand and will vary chemically and physically. — J. C. Th. Uphof. 



318. Marchand, B. de C, The soils of Natal and the Transvaal. II. The soils of the 

 Transvaal. South African Jour. Indust. 4: 181-187. 1921. — The decomposition of organic 

 matter is very rapid and nitrification takes place quickly. The soils are low in calcium and 

 phosphate and high in iron. Nitrogen does not appear to be needed. — /. /. Skinner. 



319. Skinner, J. J. Fertilizer experiments with pecans conducted by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. Proc. Georgia-Florida Pecan Growers' Assoc. 1921:4-11. 1921. — 

 A report is made on the fertilizer experiments made in Georgia and Florida for the last 3 years. 

 The experiments conducted are based on the triangle, being ratio studies of phosphate, nitrate, 

 and potash. Different sources of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potash are also included in the 



