620 EXPEBIMENT STATION EECOED. 



to occasional inundations, are generally considered exceedingly fertile and are 

 used for the cultivation of corn, tobacco, etc. The soils of Laguna and Tayabas 

 Provinces are said to be especially suited to the production of coconuts. 



Miscellaneous chemical and mechanical analyses of soils from other provinces 

 are given. 



Analyses of soil samples from. German Southwest Africa, C. Grim me (Arh. 

 Dent. Landw. GeselL, No. 262 U9U), PP- 84-101) .—Chemical and mechanical 

 analyses of samples of soils from five localities are reported and discussed. 

 The prevailing soils appear to be sands and loamy sands. Loess, loams, loamy 

 clays, loam marls, and sandy loams are among the remaining soils. 



The soils analyzed were most generally deficient in nitrogen and pliosphoric 

 acid, with an occasional deficiency in lime and potash also. 



Nyasaland soils (Bui. Imp. Inst. [So. Kensinfjton'], 12 (1914), No. 2, pp. 

 179-208). — Chemical and mechanical analyses of a number of samples of 

 cotton and tobacco soils from this region are reported and discussed in continu- 

 ation of previous work of the same kind. 



Moor culture, E. Sierig (Die Moorkultur. Berlin, 1913, pp. VII+126, figs. 

 11). — This publication deals with the subject of moor culture largely from an 

 economic and sociological standpoint, although the strictly agricultuntl phase 

 of the subject is briefly discussed. 



The soil solution and the mineral constituents of the soil, A. D. Hall, 

 Winifred E. Brenchley, and Lilian M. Underwood (Jour. Agr. 8ci. [Eng- 

 land], 6 (1914), No. 3, pp. 278-301, pis. .5).— This is a reprint of an article 

 already noted from another source (E. S. R., 30, p. 124). 



How does the plant obtain its nutriment from the soil? A. D. Hall (Mem. 

 and Proc. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soc., 58 (1913-14), pt. 2, Art. 6, pp. 22, 

 pis. 6). — This article is based upon the results of the same experiments reported 

 in full in the article noted above. 



Harmful effects of aldehydes in soils, O. Schreinek and J. J. Skinner 

 (U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 108 (1914), PP- 26, pis. 8).— Salicylic aldehyde, found to 

 occur in considerable amounts in certain field and garden soils from various 

 localities, was used at rates of from 10 to 200 parts per million of medium in 

 water cultures with wheat, corn, rice, cowpeas, and cabbage ; in pot experiments 

 with wheat, corn, and clover; and in field exiieriments with cowpeas, string 

 beans, and garden peas. 



The results sliowed that the aldehyde " in very small amounts is harmful to 

 plants in distilled water and in nutrient solutions. It is harmful to plants 

 grown in pots of soil. It greatly decreases the yield of crops grown in the 

 field. It persists in the field soils for months. There is some evidence which 

 suggests that lime and phosphate ameliorate the effects of salicylic aldehyde." 



Of 14 poor garden soils examined 5 contained aldehydes, and of 30 unpro- 

 ductive field soils 9 contained aldehydes. Of 30 ))roductive field soils examined 3 

 contained aldehydes. There appeared to be little or no relation between the 

 occurrence of aldehydes and locality, soil type or texture, or crop grown. 



Occurrence of aldehydes in g'arden and field soils, O. Schreinek and J. J. 

 Skinner (Jour, rraul-lin Inst., HS (ini',). \o. 3. pp. 32n-.3',3. figs. .'/).— The 

 substance of this article is contained in the bulletin noted above. 



Contributions to our knowledge of soil fertility, VII-XI, R. Greig-Smith 

 (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 38 (1913), pt. 4, pp. 725-746).— In a continuation 

 of previous investigations on the growth of bacteria in soils (E. S. R.. 30. p. 322) 

 the author studied the combined action of disinfectants and heat upon soils; 

 yoil toxins and their formation; the action of chloroform upon blood treated 

 with vaselin ; and the action of naphthalin in soil. 



