SOILS FERTILIZERS. 719 



SOILS— FERTIUZERS. 



Soil management, F. H. King {^ew York and London, 1914, pp. XII -^311, 

 pis. 11, figs. 8). — For many years before his cleatli Prof. King had been assem- 

 bling material for the preparation of a book on soil management. In this 

 volume his widow, Mrs. C. B. King, " has brought together such of his papers 

 and lectures as contain materials that he would have worked into an organized 

 form." 



An introductory chapter di.scussing the influence of good and bad manage- 

 ment of soils on their i)roductive capacity and emphasizing the value of scien- 

 tific soil management is followed by a chapter explaining the principles govern- 

 ing the productive capacity of fields. In these sections the factors making for 

 fertility are considered, and emphasis placed on the importance of soil com- 

 position and structure and moisture regulation. Separate chapters deal with the 

 functions, availability, and conservation of soil moisture in crop production, 

 soil moisture and plant feeding, and the principles and practice of earth 

 mulches. Keeping in mind the importance of the conservation of soil moisture 

 the author discusses the relations of optimum soil moisture capacity and soil 

 texture, and points out the value of the use, where practicable, of straw, grass, 

 litter, and earth mulches in particular for the conservation of soil moisture. 



A further chapter explaining the beneficial effects of lime in soils is followed 

 by a discussion of the physical features of soils which influence their ability to 

 feed crops. Other chapters deal somewhat at length with the functions, con- 

 servation, and application of water in crop production and reclamation of 

 swamp lands. A final chapter dealing with agricultural conditions in China, 

 Korea, and Japan describes the methods of tillage, fertilization, and crop rota- 

 tion practiced in those countries. 



Guide to the scientific study of soils, F. Wahnschaffe and F. Schucht 

 (Anleitung zur icisseiischaftlichen Bodenuntcrsuchuvg. Berlin, 1914, 3. rev. ed., 

 pp. VIII-\-216, figs. 57). — This is the third revised edition of this work (E. S. R., 

 15, p. 659), in which the authors have endeavored to incorporate more recent 

 developments in methods of soil investigation. 



Types of soil formation, their classification and geological distribu- 

 tion, K. Glinka (Die Typcn der Bodenhildung, Hire Klassifilcation und geo- 

 graphische Verhreitimg. Berlin, 1914, PP- 365, pi. 1, figs. 65). — In this volume, 

 translated from the Russian, the author describes field and laboratory methods 

 of soil investigation, and discusses especially the observations and conclusions 

 of Russian investigators regarding the problems of soil genesis and the 

 geography and physical and chemical properties of soil types and varieties, 

 more particularly those encountered in European, Asiatic, and mountainous 

 Russia. He discusses the objects and results of soil study, and considers the 

 influence of climate on the origin of soil types to be of basic importance. 



Several methods of soil type classification according to mechanical, physical, 

 and chemical properties, geographical distribution, etc., are described, and the 

 author finally divides the types and their variations into two classes which are 

 formed either by external or intei'nal forces, viz. ectodynamoi-phic and endodyna- 

 morphic soils. 



Quantitative mineralogical analysis of sandy soil, A. Vendl (Foldtani 

 Kozlmy, 43 {1913), Ko. 7-9, pp. 331-343; aJ)s. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], 

 Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 {1914), No. 3, p. 337).— The use of a 

 combination of microscopic and chemical analysis on a special type of sandy 

 soil is described. 



The inorganic composition of some important American soils, W. O. Robin- 

 son {U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 122 {1914), pp. 27).— This bulletin reports chemical 

 and mineralogical investigations of certain important types of soils. 



