722 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fore, that the monocalcic and dicaleic phosphate were equally effective in stimu- 

 lating the activities of the decay bacteria." 



It was found " that with a proper supply of lime peat may become a very 

 satisfactory medium for the development of ammonifying bacteria." 



The influence of an addition of sugar on the productivity of soils, T. 

 Pfeiffee and E. Blanck (Mitt. Landw. Inst. Breslau, 6 (1912). No. //, pp. 

 601-612, fig. 1). — The authors briefly review the work on this subject by 

 A. Koch, Lemmermiinu et al., and Schneidewind et al. (E. S. R., 20, p. 17; 24. 

 p. 327; 26, p. 319), and report a continuation of studies (E. S. R., 24, p. 319) 

 of the effect of sugar with and without phosphoric acid on the nitrogen supply 

 of different soil plats, as measured by yield of oats aud turnips, using 1 kg. of 

 sugar and 100 gm. of Thomas meal per square meter. 



The results showed a slightly injurious effect of the sugar on the yield of ^ 

 the oat crop. The after effects of the sugar on the turnips were apparently 

 slightly beneficial. It is believed, therefore, that the importance of the fer- 

 tilizing effect of sugar or organic substances has been overrated. Further 

 studies with sugar in combination with potJish and phosphatic fertilizers are 

 being made. 



On the action of an addition of alumina gel to the soil on the assimilation 

 of phosphoric acid by the plants, T. PrEiFFER and E. Blanck (Mitt. Landw. 

 Inst. Breslau, 6 (1912), No. 4, pp. 6 lS-6 17). —This is a continuation of previous 

 work (E. S. R., 25, p. 121), and reports studies of the effect of alumina on the 

 assimilation of phosphoric acid by yellow lupines, using 390 gm. of aluminum 

 hydroxid, containing 2.1 per cent AI2O3, per 18 kg. of sand in pots fertilized 

 with potassium phosphate. 



The resulls, in general, confirmed those of the previous experiments aud 

 indicated that the phosphoric acid did not go into absorptive but into chemical 

 combination. 



Brief reference is also made to a study of the lime intolerance of lupines. 

 It was found that the iron content was lower for plants grown on a soil rich 

 in calcium carbonate. The potash content of the plants was not reduced by 

 addition of lime to the soil. 



The effect of heating' and antiseptic treatment on the solubility of fertiliz- 

 ing ingredients in soils, II. I. Jensen (Jour, ami Proc. Roij. Soc. N. S. Wales, 

 Ji5 (1911), pt. 2, pp. 169-175). — Previous investigations bearing on this subject 

 by Russell and Hutchinson (E. S. R., 22, p. 121), Pickering (E. S. R., 24. p. 420), 

 Fraps (E. S. R., 26, p. 726), and Greig-Smith (E. S. R., 25, p. 214) are briefly 

 referred to, and studies of the solubility in strong hydrochloric acid, 1 per 

 cent citric acid, and fifth-normal nitric acid of the fertilizing constituents in 

 6 soils untreated and (presumably) sterilized by heat are reported. 



The results obtamed indicate that the treatment (?) made no appreciable 

 difference in the solubility of the mineral fertilizing ingredients in acids and 

 fail to support Greig-Smith's theory of waterproofing the soil particles by 

 agricere. " The evidence is therefore decidedly in favor of the view taken by 

 Russell and Hutchison, that the increased fertility is due to the destruction 

 of the protozoa and nitric acid-producing bacteria and a quick revival of the 

 ammonia-forming bacterial floi'a." 



Influence of the micro-organisms carried to the soil by night soil on the 

 fertilizing effect of the same, G. Masoni (Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., If 5 (1912), No. 

 S, pp. 191-223; ahs. in Chcm. ZeniW., 1912, I, No. 20, p. 1635).— In pot tests with 

 unmanured soil, that receiving untreated night soil, and that receiving night 

 soil sterilized by heat, sulphuric acid (1 per cent), and sodium sulphate 

 (equivalent to 1 per cent sulphuric acid), the yields were as a rule greater 



