718 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



" Plantain and sorrel were found to be more common than other weeds on 

 soil c(mtainin.i? considerable or very much acid. These weeds were also quite 

 common on soils containing little or no acid. 



"Acids in the soil are difficult to leach out. Acid soils may be improved 

 by applications of quicklime, air-slaked lime, or wood ashes. The more thor- 

 oughly lime is incorporated with the soil the more effective will be its action 

 on crop production." 



Results of experiments on the liming of soils, H. J. Patterson {Maryland 

 iStu. Bill. 110, pp. 56). — These experiments were a continuation of those pre- 

 viously reported in Bulletins 56 and 6(! of the station (E. S. R., 12, p. 621). 

 In addition to the results of the experiments, the bulletin gives some general 

 information on liming soils and on the composition of lime and limestone. 



The results of the exi5eriments reported show that in a rotation of corn, 

 wheat, and timothy and clover on run-down sandy loam naturally well drained, 

 the limed plat gave larger yields than the unlimed plat, the average net return 

 being $4.50 per acre annually ; that an application of 20 bu. of lime gave only 

 about 25 per cent more net profit than an application of 10 bu., and of 60 bu. 

 only about 50 per cent more than 10 bu., the relative profits at the end of 4 

 years being in favor of 20 bu. per acre ; and that on unproductive, stiff, wet, 

 clay soil it is decidedly advantageous to use lime in combination with green 

 manures (cowpeas) and stable manure. 



The experiments on methods of applying lime and on the relative value of 

 different forms of this material gave results slightly in favor of incorporating 

 the lime with the soil before slaking and immediately upon application leather 

 than using it as a top-dressing. 



Oyster-shell lime was apparently somewhat more effective than stone lime, 

 though the difference was not marked. Magnesian lime produced decidedly 

 better yields of grain than the pure lime, though not quite so much forage. 



In comparative tests barium oxid gave results very similar to those obtained 

 with lime, indicating that the effect of lime is more largely due to chemical 

 and physical action in the soil than to furnishing plant food. 



Calcium carbonate gave decidedly better results than caustic lime, and the 

 application of shell marl produced more grain and forage than either stone 

 lime or oyster-shell lime. Caustic lime was cheaper and much more effective 

 than gypsum. The same was true of finely ground oyster shells. Caustic 

 lime was much more effective than gas lime of oyster-shell origin. Calcium 

 I)hosphate in the form of finely ground raw phosphate rock gave better re- 

 sults than gypsum, but not so good as either carbonate or caustic lime. Soft- 

 coal ashes produced little, if any, effect. 



Lysimeter experiments, C. F. Eckart {Haumiian Sugar Planters' Sta., Div. 

 Agr. and Client,. Bui. 19, pp. 31). — This bulletin reports two series of experi- 

 ments made with tub lysimeters described in previous publications of the sta- 

 tion (E. S. R., 14, p. 554), the first to study the behavior of various nitrogenous 

 fertilizers when applied to the station soil, the second to note the effect on the 

 same soil of heavy applications of burnt lime, ground coral, and gypsum, with 

 special reference to the rate of nitrification and the amounts of lime, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid removed in the drainage under liberal irrigation. 



Fir.^t series (pp. 5-19). — In the first series of experiments nitrogen was 

 applied in the form of tankage, fish scrap, hoof meal, nitrate of soda, sulphate 

 of ammonia, and dried blood in amounts furnishing 1 gm. of nitrogen to each 

 pound of dry matter in the soil. The soils in the lysimeters were irrigated first 

 at weekly intervals and subsequently at biweekly intervals, the drainage being 

 collected in galvanized iron containers and subjected to analysis. The largest 



