SOILS FERTILIZERS, 519 



were applied to the soil and painted upon the leaves of the plant. In the ma- 

 jority of cases better i-esults were obtained by the latter method of application 

 than by the former. The author urges further investigations along this line. 



The rational use of lime, W. P. Brooks (Massachusettn 8ta. Bui. 137, pp. 

 3-6). — This article discusses briefly the possible effects of liming, how to de- 

 termine what soils need liming, the relation of lime to crops, and methods of 

 supplying lime. 



The distribution, composition, and cost of lime, H. I). Haskins and J. F. 

 Merrill (MussacJiusett.'i Sta. Bill. 137, pp. 7-19). — This article gives information 

 regarding the sources of lime in Massachusetts, the composition of different 

 forms of lime, and analyses and valuations of samples of commercial lime. The 

 kinds of lime suited to different conditions are indicated. 



Lime: Its properties and uses (U. S. Dept. Com., and Labor, Bur. Standards 

 Circ. 30, pp. 22). — This circular deals with methods of manufacture, properties, 

 and use of lime as a building material, in chemical industries, and in agricul- 

 ture. Methods of testing lime are briefly referred to. The essential facts 

 regarding the use of lime as a fertilizer are concisely summarized from publi- 

 cations of this Department and the state experiment stations. 



Action of sulphur as a fertilizer, E. Chancbin and A. Desriot (Jour. Agr. 

 Prat., n. ser., 21 {1911), No. IJ,, pp. Jf27-429; ahs. in Engrais, 26 {1911), No. 25, 

 pp. 684, 685, Rev. 06n. Soi., 22 {1911), No. 10, pp. 392, 393).— The authors refer 

 to experiments made in Germany in 1909 " in which it wa» found that the use 

 of sulphur for potato diseases was not only effective in reducing the disease 

 but increased the yield of potatoes, and report experiments of their own in 

 which sulphur was used at rates of from 250 to 500 kg. per hectare (about 

 223.14 to 446.28 lbs. per acre) in connection with superphosphate, potassium 

 sulphate, and sodium nitrate on potatoes and beets. In all cases there was a, 

 decided Increase in the yield of potatoes on the plats receiving sulphur, and in 

 every case except one there was an increase in yield of beets following its 

 application. 



While the authors do not attempt general conclusions from these experiments, 

 they suggest that the beneficial effect of the sulphur may be due to action 

 similar to that of partial sterilization by heat, carbon bisulphid, toluene, etc. 



Sulphur requirements of farm crops in relation to the soil and air supply, 

 E. B. Hart and W. H. Peterson {Wisconsin Sta. Research Bui. IJf, pp. 21). — 

 This bulletin describes an improved method of determining sulphur in soils 

 (fusion with sodium peroxid) and gives compiled and original data on the 

 amounts of sulphur in feeding stuffs, in soils under different conditions, removed 

 from soils by crops and lost in drainage, and added to soils by precipitation and 

 in manure. 



It is shown that '• normal soils are relatively poor in total sulphur trioxid ; 

 a limited number of analyses showed a percentage content of from 0.03.3 to 

 0.140 ; most of them contained less than 0.10 per cent. An acre-foot will con- 

 tain from 1,000 to 3,000 lbs. of total sulphur trioxid. About the same quantity 

 of phosphorus pentoxid will be found in an acre-foot of normal soil. These 

 results for sulphur trioxid are based on analyses made by the method of fusion 

 with sodium peroxid. Determinations by extracting with hydrochloric acid 

 or with nitric acid and bromiu will not give the total sulphur content of soils. 

 Soils cropped from 50 to 60 years and either unmanured or receiving but 

 slight applications during that period have lost on the average 40 per cent 

 of the sulphur trioxid originally present as determined by comparison with 

 virgin soils. 



«Deut. Landw. Presse, 37 (1910), ^'o. 18, p. 204. 



