322 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



flasks, each of which contained 1 kg. of sandy loam with various additions of 

 manure, green manure, caustic lime, and calcium carbonate. 



It was found that both caustic lime and calcium carbonate Increased the rate 

 of decomposition of organic substances in the soil. The use of kainit and 

 superphosphate in addition to the lime compounds reduced the decomposition. 

 Under the conditions of these experiments the depth to which the organic sub- 

 stances were buried in the soil had no appreciable influence upon the extent of 

 decomposition. The decomposition of the organic matter of green manure was 

 greater than that of stable manure, and the decomposition of manure lying on 

 the surface of the soil was as large as of that incorporated with the soil. The 

 decomposition of the organic compounds was not increased by mixing green, 

 manure and stable manure. 



Lime compounds in different kinds of soil, S. S. Elenevski (Izv. Moskov. 

 Selsk. Klioz. Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 11 {1911), No. 2, pp. 320-332).— 

 The results of determinations of total lime, calcium carbonate, lime in absorbed 

 condition, and lime in hydrochloric acid extract, before and after ignition, in 

 3 different kinds of soil (black soil, loam, and podzol) are reported. 



Bacteriological tests in soil and dung', W. A. Millard {Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], 

 2. Abt., 31 {1911), No. 16-22, pp. 502-.507).— Addition of sterilized soil in the 

 Lohnis dilution method stimulated the multiplication of various groups of soil 

 organisms, especially the nitrogen assimilating organisms. Experiments with 

 various mixtures of manure and straw indicated that nitrifying organisms were 

 not present to an appreciable extent. 



Toxic effects of " alkali salts " in soils on soil bacteria. — I, Ammonification, 

 C. B. LiPMAN {CentU. Bakt. [etc.}, 2 AU., 32 (Wtl), No. 1-2, pp. 58-^4; 

 abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 102 {1912), No. 591, II, p. 76).— The author 

 tested the effect of sodium chlorid, sodium sulphate, and sodium carbonate, in 

 amounts varying from 0.2 to 2 per cent, on ammonification in soil containing 

 2 per cent of dried blood. 



From the results of these studies he concludes that " ammonification in soils 

 is inhibited by the presence of various amounts of each of the ' alkali salts ' 

 NaCl, Na2S04, Na^COj. The first is the most toxic, the second much less so, 

 the last only slightly toxic except at very high concentrations. The actual 

 points at which these salts become markedly toxic toward ammonification in 

 soils are between 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent for NaCl, 0.4 per cent for Na2S04, 

 and 2 per cent for NaaCOs. These salt effects are very different from those 

 noted on plants by the alkali salts mentioned. In fact the conditions are about 

 reversed. These facts will have an important bearing in the consideration of 

 plans for reclaiming alkali land." 



On the behavior of leguminous plants toward inoculating material from 

 different sources, A. G. Doiaeenko {Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. {Ann. Inst. 

 Agron. Moscou), 17 {1911), No. 2, pp. 241-2Jf6, 254, flos. 2). — As in previous 

 experiments, inoculation with soil extract and with infusions of fresh nodules 

 gave better results than the use of commercial preparations. Of the latter, 

 nitragin gave relatively better results than the preparations of Moore and 

 Bottomley. 



Soil sterilization, R. Emmerich, Wilhelm Graf zu Leiningen, and O. Loew 

 {Centhl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 31 {1911), No. 16-22, pp. Jf66-.',77; abs. in In- 

 temat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 3 {1912), 

 No. 1, pp. 67-69). — In continuation of previous investigations (E. S. R., 25, 

 p. 435) tests were made of various sterilizing agents — chlorid of lime, potas- 

 sium permanganate, tricresol, carbon bisulphid, and carbolineum — as remedies 

 for soil sickness. As Hiltner had already shown, carbolineum was found to be 

 a very efficient sterilizing agent when used at the rate of from 50 to 150 cc. 



