SOILS FERTILIZERS. 223 



in I'orto Rico show a very favorable percentage of potasli and pliosplioric acid. 

 '• Doubtless various defects exist in these soils, but they are of such a nature 

 that they are easily remedied. Thus the outlook for increase of returns is a 

 very favorable one." The use of lime free from magnesia to correct the un- 

 favoraltle jiroportiou of lime to magnesia in some of these soils is advocated. 



Soils in the vicinity of Berlin, A. Orth {Landw. Jalirh., 38 (1909), Er- 

 gdnznngsh. 5, pp. 1—51). — This is a i-eport of a detailed study of the origin, 

 formation, chemical and physical properties, and agricultural value of typical 

 soils of this region. The data regarding composition and properties are ac- 

 companied by profiles of the princii»al soil types. 



Soil analyses [BnJ. Dir. (icval Agv. Hstac. Agron. Lisboa, 9 {1909), No. 3, 

 pp. 32, 33). — Physical and chemical analyses of samples of soil talvcn on dif- 

 ferent dates and at different depths on the experimental field of the agronomic 

 station of Lisbon are reported. 



The porphyrite soils of the southern Harz region, H. Gruner {Landw. 

 Jahrb., 38 {1009), ErgUnzniigsb. J, pp. 59-78, fig. I). — A study of the origin, 

 formation, and physical and chemical properties of these soils is reported, 

 with brief notes on their value foi- agi-ieultural and forestry purposes. 



Chemical analyses of some Benadir soils, G. V. Rossi {Agr. Colon. [Italy], 

 3 {1909), No. 2, pp. 116-130). — Analyses of 41 samples of soils from the terri- 

 tories of Merca, Brava, and Giumbo are given and the agricultural possibilities 

 of these soils are discussed. It is stated that the average temperature of the 

 region is 73° F. and it is pointed out that such a temperature is favorable to 

 the growth of soil organisms. 



Note on the soils of Bengal, D. N. Mookerjee {Calcutta: Dcpt. Agr. Ben- 

 gal, 1909, pp. .77, vKip I). — Noted from another source (E. S. R., 21, p. 718). 



The law of minimum and the law of diminishing soil yields, E. A. Mit- 

 sciiERLiCH {Landw. Jahrb., 38 {1909), No. 4, pp. 537-552, figs. 2; abs. in Chem. 

 Abs., 3 {1909), No. 21, p. 2602).— The laws are defined and the degree in which 

 the yield is dependent upon the minimum factor, phosphoric acid, is formulated 

 upon the basis of results of experiments with oats grown in pure quartz sand 

 with fertilizers to which monocalcium, dicalcium, and tricalcium phosphates 

 were added in increasing amounts, the phosphoric acid, however, being always 

 kept the minimum factor. 



Soil fertility, T. F. Hunt {Penn. Dept. Agr. Bui. 177, pp. 98-105).— This is 

 a brief discussion of some of the results of a long series of experiments at the 

 Pennsylvania Station (E. S. R., 20, p. 1017). 



Various smaller experiments with fertilizers and soils, I. S. Shulov {Isi'. 

 Moskov. Selsk. Khos. Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 15 {1909), No. 1, pp. 

 116-125, figs. 3). — The following minor experiments are reported : 



InfluencG of soda and common salt on the yields of flaw and millet in sand 

 cultures. — In these experiments soda was applied at the rates of 0.025, 0.05, 

 0.075, and 0.1 per cent, and common salt at the rates of 0.05, 0.075, 0.15, and 

 0.2 per cent. The results indicated that while millet was not affected by the 

 addition of soda up to 0.075 per cent, flax was more sensitive. The experiment 

 with common salt was not conclusive. 



Influence of chlorin on the development of buckwheat in water cultures. — 

 Various experiments extending over a number of years are reported which 

 indicate that chlorin is not necessary for the normal development of plants. 



Cultures with different amounts of moisture in the soil. — In experiments 

 with oats on fertilized and unfertilized podzol soil containing 40, 60, and SO per 

 cent of the total moisture capacity of the soil it was found that the yields were 

 in all cases larger on the fertilized soil, the greatest increase being ol)tained in 

 the soil containing the highest percentage of moisture. Ou the unfertilized 

 g5493— No. 3—10 ^ 



