SOILS FERTILIZERS. 25 



reports investigations on the water economy of soil under summer barley and 

 lupines as a stubble crop, on the influence of cultivation on evaporation, and 

 on the approximate evaporation from plants and soil surfaces after sprinkling. 



Fallowed soil had a greater and soil planted to barley a less water content 

 at the end of the vegetation period than at the beginning. Evaporation from 

 fallow soil was 31 per cent and from the planted soils between 88 and 93 per 

 cent of the rainfall and of the water artificially applied^ The average transpi- 

 ration by the barley plants was 68 per cent of the total evaporation. With 

 lupines as a stubble crop the difference in evaporation from fallow and planted 

 soil was less than with barley, the average transpiration from the crop being 

 58 per cent of the total evaporation. Owing to its wastefulness of water, how- 

 ever, the cultivation of lupine as a stubble or intermetliate crop is thought to 

 influence unfavorably the soil water balance particularly in light soils. Culti- 

 vation appreciably decreased evaporation and increased the quantity of water 

 taken up by the soil. The evaporation after sprinkling varied, being on the 

 average somewhat greater from fallow than from planted soil. The average 

 approximate evaporation from the planted soil was 8 per cent of the water 

 added. On the average the immediate loss by evaporation after sprinkling was 

 at th€ rate of about 2,000 gal. per acre regardless of the amount of application. 



It is concluded that the larger the application of water the better if due 

 consideration be given the type of soil and plant and the limits of economy. 



The effect of heat upon the solubility of the mineral constituents of the 

 soil, W. McGeobge (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 6 (1914), No. 3, pp. 223- 

 227). — The investigations on which this article is based have already been 

 noted from another source (E. S. R., 30, p. 419). 



The decomposition of cellulose in moor soil and peat, Wanda Daszewska 

 (Bui. Soc. Bot. Gen&ve, 2. set:, Jf (1912), No. 7, pp. 255-316). — Numerous species 

 (some of them new) of micro-organisms isolated from moor soils or from peat 

 are described and their behavior toward the decomposition of cellulose was 

 studied. 



The decomposition of cellulose by these organisms did not result in the 

 formation of brown humus products. The hyphomycetes were more active in 

 decomposing cellulose in the soil than bacteria. The dark color of humus is 

 thought to be probably due to the color of mycelium and spores, to the brown 

 and black pigments, and also to oxidizing substances (ferments) secreted by 

 most of the hyphomycetes. The hyphomycetes bring about an aerobic decom- 

 position of cellulose by means of cytase. The organisms grow in a water 

 extract of peat if provided with a supply of carbon, cellulose being suitable 

 in case of organisms which decompose this substance. 



A bibliography of the subject is given. 



The decomposition of soil carbonates, W. H. McIntibe (Science, n. ser., 

 39 (1914), No. 1001, pp. 361, 362).— \ brief note is given on investigations 

 which have shown that calcium and magnesium carbonates quickly disappear 

 as such when applied to the soil and which indicate that the magnesium car- 

 bonate and, to a less extent, the calcium carbonate react with and are fixed 

 by silica. Titanium oxid was found to bring about the same decomposition as 

 silica. The evidence secured indicates that magnesium carbonate does not 

 exist in soils of humid climates. 



Management of soils to prevent blowing, W. M. Jakdine (Jour. Amer. Soc. 

 Agron., 5 (1914), A^o. 4, pp. 213-217, pis. 5 ) .—Attention is drawn to the in- 

 jurious blowing of soils in the Great Plains area and methods of prevention 

 are proposed. The importance of keeping the surface of blowing soils rough 

 or corrugated is noted, and implements such as the alfalfa cultivator, spring- 

 tooth harrow, corn cultivator, and the lister in extreme cases, are said to be 



