322 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ertios with rcfiTiMuc to ichitivc fertility of 2 soil types of Upper Egypt (one 

 lifrlit. tlu' other heiivy) iire dcscrilx'd. 



On a long'-period variation in the height of the ground water in the dunes 

 of Holland, E. Duhois (K. Akad. Wetcnsch. Amstenhnn, Proc. Sect. Sci., 11 

 {liHiS^iD. i>t. J. pp. (}Ti-6^l). — I'eriodlc- variations depeiuliuir upon rainfall are 

 described. 



Improvement of peat soils and the chemical and physical composition of 

 such soils. IIitii;k {liiil. Soc. Xat. Agi: France. 69 (1900), No. 8, pp. 770-773).— 

 A brief acrount is f.'iven of tho inii)rovonK'nt of peat soils by drainage, burning 

 the loose surface material. f(>rtilizing with 44(5.28 lbs. of slag and 207.77 lbs. of 

 kainit per acre, and allowing the soil to be compacted by the trampling of 

 cattle. By this treatment the soil conditions were so improved that valuable' 

 pasture grasses replaced the coarser swlges and swamp plants. The original 

 soil contained 14 to 15 per cent of sand, 3 per cent of clay, 2 per cent of lime, 

 50 per cent of organic matter. 22 per cent of humus, and 2 per cent of nitrogen. 



Ireland's bogs and moor lands: Their treatment for tillage, G. Ryce 

 {Fannci-.s' <l(iz.. (iS (1909). No. ',9. pp. 1059-1061, figs. 7).— The extent and 

 character of the Irish moor lauds and their reclamation and utilization for 

 agricultural purposes are discussed. It is shown that wnth proper drainage, 

 preparation, and fertilizing these lands can be made highly productive for a 

 variety of useful crops. 



The manuring and improvement of moss land (Scot. Farmer, 17 {1909), 

 No. 884, p. 10Ji2). — An account is here given of an address by R. P. Wright 

 based upon the results of experiments made under the auspices of the West of 

 Scotland College of Agriculture. The result of 6 years' experiments showed 

 that the productiveness had been decidedly increased for the 6 years from one 

 application of basic slag and of slag and kainit. 



Manuring of black fenland (Cambridf/e Univ., Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 6, 

 pp. -'/). — Experiments with mangolds and potatoes on several types of fen 

 soils to determine primarily how much superphosphate can be profitably used 

 on such soils are reported. The superphosphate was compared with basic slag 

 and was used alone and in combination with nitrogen and potash. The best 

 results were obtained with a heavy application (6 cwt. per acre) of super- 

 phosphate, and indicate that soluble phosphate is the most valuable form to 

 use on fenlauds. The addition of nitrate of soda with a smaller application of 

 superphosphate gave good results in the case of mangolds but was as a rule 

 luiprofitable in the case of potatoes. 



Soil management, A. Keysee {Ann. Rpt. Nehr. Bd. Agr., 1909, pp. 167- 

 176). — The subject is discussed from the standpoint of management of the land 

 (1) to produce the maximum crop for the time being, and (2) to maintain its 

 ])roductive capacity. The article deals especially with the conservation of soil 

 moisture, prevention of soil washing, and rotation of crops, the purpose being to 

 demonstrate that soil fertility may not only be maintained but also increased 

 by the use of means possible on every farm. 



Plant food: Its sources, conservation, preparation and application, W. H. 

 BowKER {Boston, 1909, 2. ed., pp. 52). — This book discusses the fertilizer re- 

 quirements of plants, the essential elements of plant food, " bulk " in ferti- 

 lizers, chemically mixed v. dry mixed and home mixed fertilizers, the " yeast 

 of the soil " or soil bacteria, the comparative value of stable manure and com- 

 mercial fertilizers, intensive farming, the application of fertilizers (including 

 general directions for their use), specific directions for fertilizing different 

 crops, and commercial valuations of fertilizers. 



Is liberal fertilizing likely to prove injurious? Clausen i fUiis. Landir. 

 Ztg., 29 {1909), No. 85, pp. 799, SOO).— Experimental data are reported to show 



