722 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECOED. 



The valley lauds are of alluvial formation, and of variable physical composi- 

 tion. Both the bench and valley lands are being developed for orchard purposes. 



The elevated timber land has an elevation of from 2,500 to 3,000 ft., is cov- 

 ered with yellow pine and fir, and is of a rolling character. It is being con- 

 verted into gi'ain and timothy farms. 



The analyses indicate clearly "that extensive areas of typical pine forest 

 soils of the Northwest are well supplied with all of the mineral elements re- 

 quired in plant growth, and are exceptionally rich in phosphoric acid. As a 

 rule, they are slightly acid in reaction, and, although substantial amounts of 

 calcium are present, the application of finely crushed limestone is known to 

 be of decided advantage in bringing them into a good state of cultivation." 



Soils of the Gezira, W. Beam (Cairo Sci. Jour., 5 {1911), No. 58, pp. 181- 

 189). — This article reports the results of chemical and mechanical analyses of 

 soils from the Gezira, the triangular section of Sudan which lies between the 

 White Nile and the Blue Nile. 



In general the soils are fairly well supplied with potash and phosphoric acid 

 but are markedly deficient in organic matter and nitrogen. The growing of 

 legumes is, therefore, recommended for their improvement. 



Contribution to the knowledge of the vineyard soils of Switzerland, N. J. 

 Baragiola and C. Godet {Landw. Jahrh. Schiveiz, 25 (1911), No. 3, pp. 213-22//, 

 fig. 1). — A preliminary test of the vineyard soils surrounding Wadenswyl, 

 Switzerland, having shown a wide variation in their lime content, the authors 

 made a more detailed study of these soils giving attention to mechanical and 

 chemical analyses and the relation between the lime content of the soil and 

 the parent rocks. 



Among the more general conclusions it is stated that the soils which were 

 richer in lime contained more suspended matter than sediment. The suspended 

 lx»rtion of the soil was generally richer in lime than the sediment and the soils 

 having the most sediment had the least retentive power for water. 



The phosphoric acid content was generally somewhat higher in the surface 

 than in the subsoil. The reverse was true of lime and magnesia, the magnesia 

 content increasing practically in the same proportion as that of lime. A sub- 

 stantial part of the lime was present in a form other than that of the carbonate. 



The rock particles contained a higher percentage of lime than the soil. 



The arsenical soils of Reichenstein, Silesia, H. Gruneb (Landic. Jahrb., 40 

 (1911), No. 3-J}, pp. 517-557, pi. 1, fig. 1; abst. in Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 24 

 (1911), No. Jfl, p. 1976). — This article reports the results of studies to deter- 

 mine the origin ot tlie arsenic in soils surrounding Reichenstein, Silesia. 



It was found that the arsenic had come from the roasting furnaces, and that 

 the parent rock did not contribute to its formation. 



The sulphuric acid content of the soil increased with the arsenic, and it is 

 thought that the harmful effects on vegetation and bee culture are in part due 

 to the sulphuric acid, although the soils in the main showed a neutral reaction. 



Lime was generally deficient in the soils and it is believed that applications 

 of lime fertilizers would produce increased yields. 



Some soils which contained large amounts of arsenic acid were also low in 

 lime, phosphoric acid, and potash, and therefore from them, especially when 

 coupled with such unfavorable physical conditions as generally existed, no 

 profitable yields could be expected. 



The weathering cf silicate rocks, P. Stremme (Landw. Jahrb., 40 (1911), 

 No. 1-2, pp. 325-338; abs. in Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 24 (1911), No. 25, p. 11^; 

 Chem. Zentbl. 1911, I, No. 24, pp. 1714, 1715). — The author discusses the forma- 

 tion of kaolin on the basis of investigations by others and of his own experi- 

 ments in which he tested the action of different acids on siliceous rocks. 



