426 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and id) thriftless farming. In these cases the evil may he palliated rather 

 than prevented, and by collective rather than individual action." 



Investigations on the chemical and mechanical composition of pine forest 

 soils and analyses of ash of pine trees, J. Vityn (Zhtir. Opytn. Agron. 

 (Kms. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 12 {1911), No. 2, pp. 171-203).— Tha results of 

 the work here reported showed that the total amounts of phosphoric acid, 

 lime, and potash soluble in hydrochloric acid were much larger for podzol 

 soils underlain with clay strata than for soils over sand strata. All soils 

 underlain with sand strata were similar in their phosphoric acid, lime, and 

 potash content, and the difference in growth of pine tre(^s may possibly be 

 explained by the difference in marshiness of the soil, the latter factor influencing 

 also the process of soil formation, especially with regard to the distribution of 

 the aluminum and iron oxids. 



Increasing marshiness tends to reduce the iron oxid (FesOs) content in the 

 upper humus layer of the soil. In podzol soils the aluminum and iron oxids 

 tend to accumulate nearer the surface than in marshy soils (peaty podzol soils). 

 The aluminum oxid was deposited at a greater depth than the iron oxid. 

 Podzol soils contained substantially the same quantities of iron and aluminum 

 oxids in the hardpan (ortstein) layer, whereas marshy soils contained less 

 aluminum oxid than iron oxid, a considerable part of the former seemingly 

 being carried away with the drainage water. 



The ash content was highest in pine trees from marsh soil forests, the heart 

 wood containing somewhat more ash than the sap wood. This is contrary to 

 the usual observation and may be due to the fact that the trees were relatively 

 young (70 years old). 



The use of soils east of tlie Great Plains region, M. Whitney ( U. »Sf. Dept. 

 Af/r., Bur. Soils Bui. 78, pp. 292, pi. 1, fws. 16). — The purpose of this bulletin 

 is to indicate the proper use of soils in the production of the several staple 

 farm crops, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, based upon the work of 

 the Bui'eau of Soils, which, up to .January 1, 1910, covered 105,G13,.576 acres 

 in the following soil provinces: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains 32,576,.360 

 acres. Piedmont Plateau 10,306,426 acres. Glacial and Loessial 24.562,696 acres, 

 Glacial Lake and River Terrace 7,586,286 acres, Limestone Valleys and Uplands 

 7,666,814 acres, Appalachian Mountains and Plateau 10,158,817 acres, and the 

 River Flood Plains 12,756.177 acres. An attempt is also made to bring out 

 plainly the relationships and essential differences of the soils and to work 

 out their genetic classification. A complete list of changes in names necessary 

 to the perfecting of the classification is given. 



The Cecil sandy loam, J. A. Bonsteel ( U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils Circ. 27, 

 pp. ^9). — This is the fifth of a series of circulars on soils of the Eastern United 

 States and their use, and deals with the Cecil sandy loam, of which an aggre- 

 gate of 3,143,960 acres in 29 different areas located in 5 States has been surveyed 

 by the Bureau of Soils. 



The Cecil clay, J. A. Bonsteel (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils Circ. 28. pp. 16).— 

 This is the sixth of a series of clrculaz-s on soils of the Eastern United States 

 and their use, and deals with the Cecil clay, of which a total of 2,490,627 acres 

 in 32 different areas located in 7 States have been surveyed by the Bureau 

 of Soils. 



The Hagerstown loam, J. A. Bonsteel ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils Circ. 29, 

 pp. 18). — This Is the seventh of a series of papers on soils of the Eastern United 

 States and their use, and deals with the Hagerstown loam, of which 1,211,911 

 acres in 24 different areas in 5 States has been mapped by the Bureau of Soils. 



The heaths of Uckermiinde, H. Seelheim (Die Ueckermilnder Heide. 

 Inaug. Diss. Univ. Grcifswald, 1910, pp. IX-}- 116, pi. 1, figs. 10, map i).— This is 



