SOILS FEETILIZERS. 321 



likely to lose nitrogen rapidly and hence to be deficient in this constituent. The 

 tank soils lost nitrogen, mostly nitrates, in the drainage at the rate of 910^ lbs. 

 of sodium nitrate per acre from July 7 to May 23. The surface soil of the 

 orange groves examined contained only about one-half as much nitrogen as that 

 of virgin hammocks. The loss of phosphoric acid and potash in the drainage 

 of the tanks was much smaller than that of nitrogen, and there was less differ- 

 ence in this respect between virgin and the orange-grove soils. 



A study of alkali soils, E. F. Ladd and Alma K. Johnson (North Dakota 

 8ta. Spec. Bui., 2 {1912), No. //, pp. 55-58). — The results of determinations of 

 alkali salts in soils upon which the oat crop showed marked difference in pro- 

 ductiveness are reported, and correlated with crop yields in pot experiments 

 with oats, timothy, and alfalfa with and without additions of gypsum and 

 blood to the soil. 



From the results of the analyses it is estimated that the poor soils contained 

 173,580 lbs. of water-soluble alkali salts per acre to a depth of 2i ft. as com- 

 pared with 18,600 lbs. in the good soils. The sodium carbonate content, how- 

 ever, was lower in the poor soils. Applications of gypsum gave slightly in- 

 creased yields with oats and timothy. Blood also acted very favorably with 

 these crops. In view of the fact that the soils were already well supplied with 

 nitrogen it is believed that the beneficial effect of the blood may have been due 

 to the incorporation with the soil of nitrifying organisms. Alfalfa was not 

 benefited by the addition of either gypsum or blood. 



Plant food lost in drainage from uncultivated peat soils and from such 

 Boils growing different crops, H. von Feilitzen et al. (Svenska Mosskulturfdr. 

 Tidskr., 26 {1912), No. 2, pp. lll-15Jf, figs. //).— The results of 5 years' lysimeter 

 trials at the Jonkoping Experiment Station are reported. 



Eight cement boxes (15 by 80 cm., 50 cm. deep) were placed in the ground 

 and connected with bottles for collection of drainage waters. Kach lysimeter 

 was filled with about 94.5 kg. (about 207.0 lbs.) of a good quality of peat soU, 

 containing about 60 per cent organic matter, 0.78 per cent lime, 0.66 per cent 

 potash, 0.13 per cent phosphoric acid soluble in 12 per cent cold hydrochloric 

 acid, and 2.15 per cent nitrogen. Two of the lysimeters were left unfertilized, 

 while applications of superphosphate, superphosphate and 37 per cent potash 

 salts, or the latter fertilization with nitrate of soda, were made to two lysimeters 

 each. The amounts of fertilizers applied each year are given and the crops 

 grown during the years 1906 to 1909, viz, oats, potatoes, and ruta-bagas. During 

 the first year the soil lay fallow in all lysimeters. Complete data are pre- 

 sented as to amounts of precipitation, drainage water, and plant food 

 (lime, potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen) removed in the drainage water 

 and in the crops during each year. Analyses of the soil in all lysimeters iu 

 three different depths were made at the conclusion of the trials. The results 

 obtained are discussed in some detail. 



During the first year (fallow) considerable lime, nearly as much potash, 

 and considerable nitric nitrogen were washed out, while the loss of phosphoric 

 acid was insignificant. The losses were most marked in the case of the ferti- 

 lized soil. During the 4 years when crops were grown on the soil the losses 

 of lime were likewise largest, with potash and nitrogen following in the order 

 given ; the losses of phosphoric acid were small and of no pi-actical importance. 

 Much larger losses were sustained for lime and nitrogen on the unfertilized 

 than on the fertilized soil, owing to the smaller crops grown thereon, while the 

 losses for potash were about the same in all cases. The losses on the grass 

 plats were considerably smaller than for the other crops. The soil analyses 

 showed that in spite of the fertilizer applied the contents of lime, potash, ami 

 nitrogen were diminished during the 5 years' experimental period, while that 



