SOILS — FERTILIZERS. 217 



Investigations on pine-covered sand dune soils, K. Yogel (Internat. Mitt. 

 BodenJc., 1 (1012), No. 6, pp. J^95-517, pis. 3).— The pine forests of Melchow 

 near Eberswnlde having shown a marked difference in productiAeness, the 

 author made a series of mechanical and chemical analyses of samples of soil 

 from areas supporting a vigorous forest growth and from devastated areas, 

 parts of which had been reforested, with a view of determining the limiting 

 element of plant food. A comparison was made of the results of these analyses 

 with those of forest soils by other inve.stigators. 



The results showed that these sand dune soils were low in mineral constitu- 

 ents but that, notwithstanding this fact, they produced heavy crops of pine trees 

 where sufficient amounts of niti'ogen and hunuis were present in the soil. The 

 yield of pine trees was in direct proportion to the nitrogen and humus content 

 of the soil, and it is believed, therefore, that for the improvement of these 

 dnnes, and pi-obably also of most of the forest soils of northern Germany, 

 which have been shown to contain at least an equally high mineral content, 

 the application of mineral fertilizers is not necessary but that consideration 

 should be given to the matter of increasing and conserving the nitrogen and 

 humus content of the soil. 



Studies of the tillable soils of Roumania, G. Murgoci (Intemat. Mitt. 

 Bodenk., 1 (1912), No. 6, pp. li'i-'t-r)G2). — Preferences to the more important litera- 

 ture on the sul)ject are given, with a brief discussion as to the scope of the 

 different works. 



The composition of sandy soils of Tripoli, A. Menozzi (Agr. Mod., JS 

 (1912), No. ()^ pp. 81-83). — The results of niechanical and chemical analyses of 

 soil samples from different parts of Tripoli and from Sfax in Tunis, including 

 tests of the absorption of ammonia and phosphoric acid from solutions, are 

 reported and briefly discussed. 



Some cotton soils of the Nyasaland and Uganda protectorates (Bui. Imp. 

 Inst. [So. Kensington^, 10 {1912). No. 1, pp. 5o-7Ji). — The results of mechanical 

 and chemical analyses of a number of samples of typical soils from different 

 parts of the regions to determine their suitability for cotton growing are reported 

 and briefly discussed. The soils, in general, contained sufficient amounts of 

 plant-food constituents. In some cases, however, the percentage of nitrogen 

 and of phosphoric acid was slightly below the average for good cotton soils. 

 The mechanical condition of the soils was .satisfactory. 



The pinery and orchard soils of the Bathurst Division, Cape Province, 

 J. Lewis (Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 3 (1912), No. 3, pp. 357-371).— The 

 pineapple crops of the region having shown a steady deterioration, the author 

 made a series of analyses of typical soils and of average fruit and plants with 

 a view of determining their plant-food requirements. Analyses of apple and 

 orange soils were also made. 



The results, in general, showed that, although the soils may be considered of 

 medium quality, the pineries were in every case deficient in one or more of the 

 necessary soil constituents. The use of ordinary mineral fertilizers is recom- 

 mended to supply the deficiency. The apple and orange soils were generally 

 poor in lime, potash, and phosphoric acid, and a few were also poor in nitrogen. 



[Analyses and determinations of moisture of Queensland soils], J. C. 

 BRiJNNiCH (Ann. Rpt. Dept. Agr. and Stock [Quecnslan■d^, 1909-10, pp. 44, 

 50-56). — Analyses of soils of newly opened banana and pineapple districts 

 calculated to pounds of plant food per acre for a depth of 1 ft., and determina- 

 tions of soil moisture at various depths and in relation to cultivation are 

 reported. 



The soils, in general, were well supplied with the mineral constituents of 

 plant food. It is stated that the value of the soil analyses would be very much 



