SOILS FERTILIZERS . 119 



since certain factors which favor productiveness favor oxidation. The follow- 

 ing conclusions are drawn : 



" Soils have the power to oxidize aloin. This oxidizing power is increased by- 

 adding water to optimum moisture, by the commonly used fertilizers in con- 

 junction with plant growth, by salts and manganese, iron, aluminum, calcium, 

 and magnesium, in the presence of simple organic hydroxyacids. 



" Oxidation in soil is comparable to oxidation in plants and animals. The 

 oxidative power of the soil appears to be mainly nonenzymotic, the results of 

 interaction between inorganic constituents and certain types of organic matter. 

 It may be brought about by organic matter in a state of autoxidation and by 

 inorganic oxygen carriers such as manganese and iron. 



"Oxidation is greater in the soil than in the subsoil. Oxidation is greater 

 in fertile soils than in infertile soils." (See also E. S. R., 24, p. 22:>.) 



Soils of the eastern United States and their use, I. — The Norfolk fine 

 sandy loam, J. A. Bonstkel (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils Circ. 22, pp. hi). — 

 This is the first of a series of circulars, and deals with the geographic distribu- 

 tion, characteristics of soil and subsoil, surface features and drainage, extent 

 of occupation, limitations of uses,, tillage requirements, and crop adaptations 

 of the Norfolk fine sjindy loam, of which a total area of 4.346,072 acres in 63 

 dllTorent areas in 9 States has been surveyed by the Bureau of Soils. 



Soils of the eastern United States and their use, II. — The Norfolk fine sand, 

 J. A. Bonstkel {U. 8. Dopt. Agr., Bur. Soi/.s- Circ. 23, pp. 16). — This is the second 

 of a series of circulars noted al)ove, and deals with the Norfolk fine sand, of 

 which a total area of 1,595,072 acres in 46 different areas in 11 States has been 

 surveyed by the Bureau of Soils. 



[County geological surveys in Iowa], M. F. Arey, T. H. Macbbide, S. W. 

 Stookev, and B. Shimek (Iowa Geol. Sun-ey Ann. Rpt., 20 (1909), pp. 1-5^2, 

 pis. //2, figs. 42, m<ips 10). — Geological Surveys of Buitler, Grundy, Hamilton, 

 Wiight, Iowa, Wayne, Poweshiek, Harrison, Monona, and Davis counties are 

 reported. These reports deal not only with the physiography, stratigraphy, and 

 economic products, but also contain imj)ortant sections relating to soils. 



Soil observations in Istria: Red soils (terra rossa), Wilhelm Graf zu 

 Leiningen (Natnrw. Ztschr. Forst u. Landw., 9 {1911), No. 2, pp. 65-89, figs. 

 2). — This article reports observations on the influence of weathering and soil 

 formation on vegetation in Istria, and on the extent, formation, and origin, and 

 the physical and chemical proiierties, of the red soils (terra rossa) of that 

 region. It is stated that these soils are derived principally from the residue of 

 limestone rocks, and to a less extent of flysch (sandstone). In the process of 

 formation the calcium and magnesium are washed away, leaving the aluminum 

 and iron compounds to form the red soil. 



Typical red soils are fine-grained, impervious, and retentive of moisture. 

 Mechanical analyses are reported which showed from 66 to 81.4 per cent of 

 clay. Chemical analysis of a typical sample showed water and organic matter 

 11.77, silica 47.79, ferric oxid 32.24, alumina 3.15, manganic oxid 1.35, lime 0.68, 

 magnesia 1.37, potash 1.15, soda 1.5G. and phosphoric acid 0.24 per cent. As 

 the analysis shows, these soils are deficient in lime. They are therefore bene- 

 fited both chemically and physically by liming. 



Some results of a flying soil survey, B. C. Aston {Jour. Neio Zeal. Dept. 

 Agr., 2 {1911), No. 1, pp. 10-11, figs. 6). — This article summarizes the more 

 important results presented in a former report on the soils of the subantarctic 

 islands of New Zealand (B. S. R., 24, p. 19), calling attention to the unusually 

 high niti-ogen content of the soils and to the fact that the quality of the soils is 

 closely correlated with the character of the vegetation, each soil type corre- 

 sponding to a characteristic flora. 



