SOILS — FERTILIZEES. 513 



enced more and more by these soils and by the farmers engaged in tlieir culti- 

 vation." 



New Jersey soils in tlieir relation to fertility and crop production, J. G. 

 LiPMAN (Ann. Rpt. N. J. Bd. Agr., 38 (1910), pp. 85-101).— This is a popular 

 discussion of the subject. 



Geological maps before the German Agricultural Council, A. Jentzsch 

 (IitterncvL Mitt. Bodenk., 2 (1912), No. 1, pp. 3-^^).— This has been noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 25, p. 798). 



Regarding the constitution of concretions in red soils of northern Italy, 

 E. Blanck (Mitt. Landw. Inst. Brcslau, 6 (1911), No. 3, pp. 325-3U).—Tho 

 author reviews the literatui'e on the origin and composition of typical laterit 

 and red soils, and reports a study of the chemical composition of concretions 

 formed in the red soils of Italy in relation to the parent rock and as compared 

 with laterit concretions. 



The results showed tliat the concretions of the red soils of Italy are com- 

 posed largely of calcium carbonate and bear a close relation to the limestone 

 rock from which the soil is apparently derived. Laterit concretions, on the 

 other hand, are shown to contain large amounts of iron as FeaOs derived from 

 rocks of a ferruginous nature. 



The author expresses the opinion that a study of the constitution and origin 

 of concretionary deposits of soils may be expected to aid in the interpretation 

 of the weathering processes of a given region. 



Chemical and physical nature of red soils, E. Blanck (Jour. Landiv., 60 

 (1912), No. 1, pp. 59-13; ahs. in Chem. Abs., 6 (1912), No. U, p. 19Jt8; Jour. 

 Clicm. 8oc. [London], 102 (1912), No. 595, II, pp. J,82, J,S3).—A chemical study 

 of red laterite soils of the Mediterranean region and of the red soils of more 

 northern regions, around Miinzenberg, showed no essential differences in the 

 content, solubility, or form of combination of the iron and aluminum. It was 

 found, however, that the surface ai-ea (as determined by the modified Mitscher- 

 lich method) in proportion to the amount of ferric oxid and soluble alumina 

 was greater in the Mediterranean red soils than in the Miinzenberg soils. This 

 is thought to be due partly to the collodial condition of the iron oxid. 



The origin of sea marshes, Schutte (Arb. Dent. Landw. Gesell., 1911, No. 

 178, pp. Jf9, figs. 19). — This is an account of observations on the formation, causes 

 of productiveness, fauna and flora, and agricultural value of the North Sea 

 marshes. 



Analyses of soils of German Southwest Africa, C. Grimme (Arh. Deut. 

 Landiv. Gesell., 1911, No. 197, pp. 128-135). — In connection with a study of the 

 grazing possibilities in German Southwest Africa, the author made physical 

 and chemical analyses of samples of soil from seven different districts of the 

 region. Taking one-tenth per cent as normal, the results showed that out of 

 24 soils, 11 lacked nitrogen, 8 phosphoric acid, and 1 potash. Two soils were 

 deficient in lime. 



Pumice soils, B. C. Aston (Jour. New Zeal. Dept. Agr., ^ (1912), No'. 5, pp. 

 374-377, fig. 1). — This article describes the physical characteristics and crop 

 adaptation of pumice soils of the North Island, New Zealand, central volcanic 

 plateau. The soils are derived from eruptive rocks which have undergone very 

 little alteration by weathering processes. It is stated that although classified 

 as coarse sands, these soils contain "a less amount of silica (which is in the 

 combined state) and a larger amount of plant food than the majority of sands." 



Methods of improvement depend largely on increasing the store of humus and 

 applications of phosphatic fertilizers. 



Rock and soil in relation to plant nutrition with special reference to 

 the cementing material of sandstone, E. Blanck (Landw. Vers. Stat., 77 



