620 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The total precipitation during the period of ol)sorvation (1,540 days) was 

 2,236.2 mm., corresponding to 8,944.8 liters per lysimeter. The amount of drain- 

 age water obtained varied from 847.2 liters per lysimeter for fertilized moor 

 soil to 2,720 liters for unfertilized humus sand. The amount of drainage was 

 uniformly greater with unfertilized than with fertilized soils. The latter, there- 

 fore, evaporated more water, but this water was more economically utilized by 

 crops as shown by the amount of water required to produce 1 kg. of dry matter, 

 this varying from 359.4 kg. on fertilized moor soil to 1,149 kg. on unfertilized 

 humus loam. 



The drainage waters contained no phosphoric acid. There were, however, 

 considerable losses of nitrogen, potash, and lime iu the drainage waters, the 

 losses of these constituents in the drainage water of the lysimeters being much 

 larger than in that obtained from field drains. With one excei»tion the nitrogen 

 in the drainage water was greater and the potash was smaller in the unfer- 

 tilized than in the fertilized soils. In all cases the drainage water of fertilized 

 soils contained smaller amounts of lime than that of unfertilized soils. There 

 was more drainage water and greater loss of plant food during fallow periods 

 than during periods when the soils were growing crops. 



Investigations on the influence of high ground water level on cultivated 

 plants, J. KtJHN and U. Golf (Ber. Physiol. Lab. u. Vers. Anst. Landw. Inst. 

 Halle, 1911, No. 20, pp. 113-153) .—Pot exixjriments conducted from 1902 to 

 1910, inclusive, to determine at what height the ground water level becomes 

 injurious to plants, are reported, using winter rye, summer rye, oats, barley, 

 and potatoes as the experimental crops. 



The results show that the best yields were obtained with permanent water 

 levels between 60 and 80 cm. and with temporary or fluctuating water levels 

 between 50 and 70 cm. Ground water levels which were permanently below 

 SO cm., or permanently or temporarily above 50 cm., reduced the yield of crops. 

 The length of roots (potatoes) increased with the lowering of the water level. 

 The root tips were as a rule either a few centimeters above or below the water 

 level. The depth of penetration of the roots under temporary water levels 

 varied considerably. Applying the water at the time of planting so that the 

 water level stood at 80 cm., as compared with similar applications 2 weeks 

 after germination, reduced the total and average yield of tubers, the weight 

 and length of leaves, and to a less degree, the weight of roots. 



Hardpan in Norway — in arid climate, K. O. Bjorlykke (Norsk Oeol. 

 Tidsskr., 2 (1911), No. 2, Art. 5, pp. 12, fig. 1). — It is shown that while most 

 of Norway is humid there are areas in the upper portions of the great eastern 

 valleys where the annual rainfall is only from 300 to 500 mm. (11.8 to 19.7 in.), 

 and where the climati': and soil conditions present many of the characteristics 

 of arid regions. Samples of so-called saltpeter earth, high in water-soluble 

 salts, from northern Gudbrandsdalen, and calcareous hardpan from northern 

 Osterdalen, are described. 



First report of the Temir experiment field of the Turgai-TJral Colonization 

 District, 1907-8, S. K. Chaianov (Isv. Peresel. TJpravl., St. Peterb., 1910, pp. 

 166; ahs. in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 12 {1911), No. 2, 

 pp. 20^-207). — This experiment field was established in 1907. The annual pre- 

 cipitation in 1908 was only 202 mm. (7.95 in.). Evaporation was very intense, 

 amounting to 866.3 mm., or four times the annual precipitation. In July alone 

 it amounted to 246.8 mm. 



The minimum soil moisture was found at a depth of from 50 to 75 cm. The 

 summer rains appeared to be without influence on the soil moisture except in 

 the sui'face layers. Black (bare) fallow and April fallow on virgin soil con- 

 tained 4.7 per cent of moisture at the time of sowing winter cereals, and May 



