SOILS — FERTILIZERS. 



215 



Various solvents (carbon bisulpbid, chloroform, and petroleum ether) extracted 

 from garden soil a wax, or group of waxlike bodies, for which the name 

 " agricere " is proposed. The results are summarized as follows: 



" Water extracts from soil a substance which is filterable through porce- 

 lain, and which is toxic to bacteria. 



" The toxicity is made evident by the retardation of growth, or by the de- 

 struction of the bacteria. 



" The toxin is destroyed by heat, by sunlight, and by storage. It slowly dis- 

 ajjpears from air-dried soil, and rapidly decays in aqueous solution. It is not 

 destroyed by salts, such as sodium chlorid, potassium, or magnesium sulphate. 



" Soils vary in the amount of toxin they contain, good soils containing less, 

 poor soils more. 



"The particles of soil are covered or 'waterproofed' with soil wax or 'agri- 

 cere,' which consists of a mixture of saponifiable and uusaponifiable bodies. 



"The wax solvents (volatile disinfectants) alter the distribution of the agri- 

 cere by carrying it to the surface of the soil, and causing it to be segregated on 

 the points of the soil particles. 



"With the removal of the ' wateri)roofing ' the soil nutrients are more easily 

 dissolved by soil water, and attacked by bacteria." 



On th.e importance of humus bodies, H. Fischer (FuJiling''s Landic. Ztg., 

 60 (1911), Xo. 3, pp. 73-83). — This article reviews the present knowledge re- 

 garding the composition and action of humus compounds in the soil, especially 

 in their bearing upon bacterial activity. 



The new science of the soil, W. II. Beal (Sci. Amcr., 10.', (1911), No. 7, pp. 

 168, 169, 186, 187, figs. 6). — This is a brief review of some of the more recent 

 advances in chemical, physical, and bacteriological investigation of the soil. 



The importance of soil maps to soil science and agriculture, E. Blanck 

 (Fiihling's Landto. Ztg., 60 (1911), No. 4, PP- 12 1-1. ',5). —This article reviews 

 the development and present status of soil mapping, indicating its scientific 

 and practical value. 



Soils of New South Wales, III, II. I. Jensen (Agr. Gaz. X. S. Wales, 22 

 (1911), Xo. 1, pp. 27-35). — This article deals with the origin, classificaition, 

 and composition of these soils and compares them with the north coast soils of 

 New South AVales previously reported upon (E. S. R., 23, p. 521; 24, p. 618). 



It is stated that owing to the higher rainfall of that region the north coast 

 soils are relatively richer in organic matter and poorer in mineral plant foods 

 than the south coast soils. The basalt soils, especially, are much leached and 

 contain a low percentage of linie. The quality of the soils of both the northern 

 and southern districts depends upon the geological formations from which they 

 are derived, and diminish in productivity in the following order : Alluvial ; 

 basalt; diorite and basic (hornblendic) granite; shale and mudstone; phyllite, 

 schist, and slate; acid (siliceous) granite; and sandstone. 



The average composition of the north coast and south coast soils is given in 

 the following table : 



Average composition of north coast and sovth coast soils. 



