EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 117' 



SOILS— FEETILIZERS. 



The soil forming processes and the main principles of soil classification, 

 P. Kossovicii (Zlnir. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 (1910), 

 Ao. 5, pp. 6^)19-703). — The author is of the opinion that a general soil classifica- 

 tion can not be based upon any combination of outside soil-forming factors (such 

 as climate, parent rock, topography, plant and animal life, and age) and much 

 less upon any single factor, however great its influence may be. A scientific 

 soil classification should be based rather upon the characteristic inner soil 

 properties and soil forming processes. 



Bearing in mind that the gi'eater part of soils is of independent formation 

 but that there are some soils (generally low-lying) which contain weathering 

 products transported from other soils, the author divides all surface soils into 

 2 main clasf^es, the genetically independent and the genetically dependent. 

 On the basis of soil forming processes he divides the first class into the follow- 

 ing types : Dry desert, semiarid desert, chernozem, podzol, tundra, upland moor, 

 and lateritic soils. The genetically dependent soils are divided into soils 

 formed with the addition, respectively, of products of the semiarid, chernozem, 

 podzol, and laleritie soil forming processes. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 

 12, p. 701). 



Soils of arid and of humid regions, E. W. Hilgard {Internat. Mitt. BodenJc, 

 1 {1912). No. 5, pp. Jil5-.)29). — This is a brief summary of the more important 

 results of the author's investigations of the physical and chemical properties 

 of arid and of humid soils which, with the exception of certain of the more 

 recent contributions to the subject, are to be found in the author's book on 

 Soils (E. S. E., IS, p. BIT)), in publications of the California Experiment Station, 

 and in Wollny's Forschungen auf dem Gebiete der Agrikultur-physik, 1893. 



Soil investigations in the United States, C. L. Henning {Intermit. Mitt. 

 Bodcnk., 1 {1912), No. 5, pp. Jj.'t0-J,62). — The author reviews the history and 

 organization of the Bureau of Soils of this Department, and discusses in some 

 detail the methods and extent of the soil survey work of this Bureau, including 

 a brief description of the more important soil series of the different soil prov- 

 inces of the country, 



A contribution to the knowledge of Cuban cultivated soils, E. W. Mi'iLLEK 

 {Tropenpfianzcr, 15 {1911), No. 12, pp. 660-679). — This is an account of a study 

 of the physical and chemical properties and crop adaptation of these soils. 

 Five main groups of soils are distinguished : A light gray colored, or so-called 

 agricultural group; the yellow, red, and dark soils; and a sandy type developed 

 in Herradura and on the Isle of Pines. 



The light gray colored soils occupy the western part of Cuba and constitute 

 the typical tobacco soils of the island. They are residuary in character and 

 contain numerous concretions with a high phosphoric acid content. The con- 

 cretions of the surface soils are rather hard, rounded, and brown in color. 

 Those of the subsoil approach a red color and crumble easily. Analyses showed 

 as high as 20 to 25 per cent of phosphoric acid in the subsurface concre- 

 tions. The light gray soils, in general, are oi^en in structure, containing large 

 percentages of stones, gravel, and coarse sand, characteristics which are con- 

 sidered to adapt them for the production of tobacco of a fine gi-ained and an 

 elastic quality, and of superior aroma. They are stated to be well supplied 

 with nitrogen and the mineral constituents of plant food, the analyses reported 

 showing an average nitrogen content of from 0.037 to 0.206 per cent; phos- 

 phoric acid, 0.054 to 0.263 per cent; potash, 0.023 to 0.139 per cent; and lime, 

 0.069 to 0.513 per cent. 



