218 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOED, 



increased by more complete data as to tlie origin of tlie soils, and the starting 

 of detailed soil surveys by districts has therefore been recommended. 



The results of the moisture determinations show " that in the uncultivated 

 block very little of the water which fell during December and January was 

 absorbed by the soil, and that in spite of the good rain the amount of moisture 

 remained practically the same at the various depths of 6 in., 1 ft. 6 in., 2 ft. 

 6 in., and 3 ft. 6 in. during the months of December, January, and February. 

 Very heavy rain fell before the March sample was taken, and»the soil from 

 the top layer right down to 3 ft. 6 in. benefited by this rain, but the moisture 

 again was very rapidly lost after a few weeks without rain. In the cultivated 

 land the conditions of absorbing moisture were more favorable, and again the 

 loss of moisture by evaporation was considerably diminished. Very striking, 

 however, is the difference caused by the Campbell system of cultivation and also 

 in the land worked bare fallow, which cause the moisture to be completely 

 conserved in the top layers, and almost completely prevented the loss by evap- 

 oration during months of dry weather." 



Fertilizers and crops, L. L. Van Slyke {N&w York and London, 1912, pp. 

 Z/F+734, 1)1. 1, figs. 132).— This book, by the chemist of the New York State 

 Station, attempts to make " practical application of the results of investigation 

 to the use of plant food in the growing of crops." It embodies the main results 

 of investigation in this country and abroad, including the author's studies, 

 observations, and experience in this field during the past 25 years. 



" The purpose has been not merely to give information but to present it in 

 such a systematic way as to show certain fundamental relations and make 

 clear, as far as possible, the reasons underlying every practice suggested. . . . 

 " In the selection and arrangement of the materials, the writer has kept in 

 mind the needs of practical farmers as well as those of classes iu agricultural 

 colleges and high schools." 



The book is divided into 4 parts, part 1 (pp. 1-233) dealing with factors of 

 soil fertility, part 2 (i^p. 235-393) with sources and composition of materials 

 used as fertilizers, part 3 (pp. 31)5-507) with factors in the selection of fertiliz- 

 ing materials, and part 4 (pp. 509-710) with the practical use of fertilizers in 

 the growing of individual crops. 



Commercial fertilizers and agriculture of the Alps, O. Kerleb (Deiit. 

 Land IV. Presse, 39 {1912), Nos. 33, j)p. 391, 392, figs. J,; 3h, pp. 1,02, ['t03, 

 figs^ 7). — This is an account of the agricultural practices of the Alps and of 

 experiments with barnyard manure and commercial fertilizers, showing that 

 the practice of supplementing barnyard manure with a. phos]jhatic fertilizer 

 greatly increased the yield of crops, and in turn enabled the farmer to keep 

 more stock and thus produce larger amounts of manure. Complete mineral 

 fertilizers are recommended only where sufEcient manure to fertilize the 

 entire farm is not produced. 



Calcium cyanamid as compared with, nitrogenous fertilizers, L. R. da Silva 

 (Rev. Agron. [Portugal], 9 {1911), No. 1-6, pp. 91,-101). — Comparative tests of 

 calcium cyanamid, sodium nitrate, and ammonium sulphate with various crops 

 are reported. 



The constitution of basic slag, Haktleb {Ztchr. Offentl. Chenu, 11 {1911), 

 No. 20, pp. 381-38-'i; alst. in Chan. Abs., 6 {1912), No. 5, p. 66J).— The author 

 maintains substantially that Blome's experiments with fusions of tricalcium 

 phosphate, lime, and silica (E. S. R., 25, p. 121) throw no light on the constitu- 

 tion of Thomas slag or on the cause of the increase in citrate-solubility of the 

 phosphoric acid of the slag when it is fused with sand. 



The influence of lime on cultivated soil (Arch. Snikcrmdus. Nederland. 

 Indie, 20 {1912). No. 13, pp. 379-383).— This is a brief review of the investiga- 

 tions on this subject by Thaer (E. S. R., 25, p. 823). 



