SOILS FERTILIZERS. 123 



On the chemical nature of humus acids, A. Rindell (Internat. Mitt. Bodenk., 

 1 (1911), No. 1, pp. 67-80). — The author reviews the work of other investigators 

 on the subject, particularly that of Baumanu and Gully (E. S. R., 23, p. 715), 

 and reports the results of his own experiments showing that the action of added 

 salts on sphagnum soils is a chemical one, this conclusion being based on the 

 disparity between the absorbed cation and free acid. The theory that there 

 are no sphagnum and humus acids and that the acid reaction is due to the 

 colloid of the hyaline sphagnum cell coverings is not accepted by the author. 

 He points out that moor soils having no trace of sphagnum contain humus acids. 



[Address of the chairman of the subsection of agriculture], A. D. Hall 

 (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1910, pp. 571-577). — This is mainly a review of 

 scientific investigations bearing on the fertility of the soil, which has pre- 

 viously been noted from another source (E. S. R., 23, p. 717). 



The part played by inicro-org'anisms other than bacteria in determining 

 soil fertility, E. J. Russell and H. B. Hutchinson (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. 

 Sci., 19 JO, p. 583).— See a previous note (E. S. R., 24, p. 621). 



The fixation of nitrogen by free living soil bacteria, W. B. Bottomley 

 (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1910, pp. 5S1, 5S2). — This article is based upon 

 investigations which have been noted from another source (E. S. R., 24, p. 229). 



Nitrogen fixation by yeasts and other fungi, C. B. Lipaian (Jour. Biol. 

 Chem., 10 (1911), No. 3, pp. 169-182). — The author reports investigations show- 

 ing that " of eighteen organisms, including yeasts, psendo yeasts, and molds, 

 tested nearly all show a more or less pronounced power of fixing atmospheric 

 nitrogen. 



" Tap water sugar solutions are better suited for nitrogen fixation by the 

 organisms tested than distilled water solutions. Mannite and lactose solutions 

 are far superior to dextrose, saccharose, and maltose solutions for these organ- 

 isms in distilled water, but dextrose is the best in tap water solutions. Maltose 

 Is the most unsatisfactory. The highest amount of nitrogen fixed was 2.94 

 lug. per gram of mannite by pseudo yeast Tulare No. 46b in distilled water 

 mannite solution. The results of other investigators with reference to the 

 nitrogen fixing powers of Aspergillus niger and PenicilUum glaucum are con- 

 firmed. Botrytis einerea, a parasitic fungus, has been found for the first time, 

 so far as the writer is aware, to possess a nitrogen fixing power." 



Six years' experiments with nitragin inoculation with special reference 

 to green manuring, F. Schindler (Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsxo. Osterr., 14 

 (1911), No. 6, pp. 829-865; ahs. in Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 2^ (1911), No. U, PP- 

 1976, 1977; Chem. ZentU., 1911, II, No. 13, p. 980).— The experiments here 

 reported show that the benefit derived from inoculation depends upon the char- 

 acter of the plant and the conditions of culture under which the tests are 

 made, but that in many cases, particularly on new lands and moor soils, it is 

 a very profitable practice and will increase the benefit to be derived from green 

 manuring. Serradella and lupines on new lands are especially benefited by 

 inoculation. In certain cases where legumes were grown for the first time 

 inoculation with soil extract containing the required organisms was more 

 effective than the use of nitragin. 



Different kinds of stable manure as sources of phosphoric acid, M. A. 

 Egobov (Zliur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 12 (1911), No. 4, PP- 

 Ji98-528, figs. 5). — In continuation of previous experiments (E. S. R., 24, p. 321), 

 the author studied the changes which take place in the decomposition of 

 manure with and without the addition of antiseptic substances, and reports 

 results of sand cultures on chernozem and podzol soil comparing monopotassium 

 phosphate, ferric phosphate, lecithin, phytin, nuclein acid, and different kinds of 

 manure as sources of phosphoric acid. 



22214°— No. 2—12 ^3 



