18 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Forest soils, E. Henry (Lcs Sols Foresticrs. Paris and Nancy, 190S, pp. 1/92, 

 pis. 5, dgms. 3, maps 2; Ann. ScL Agron., 3. ser.. 2 {1901). I, pp. 25J-J,18; II, 

 pp. 1-322, 1)18. 5, dgms. 3, viaps 2; rev. in Bui. Soc. Nat. Agr. France, 68 {1908), 

 No. 9, pp. 732-73Jf). — This, the first exhaustive treatise on this subject, is based 

 largely upon the special researches of the author, particularly iu the parts 

 dealing with the formation and character of the dead and living forest cover 

 and their influence upon the moisture of the soil. 



After a general introductory chapter defining and describing the properties 

 of forest soils as distinguished from ordinary cultivated soils, the book talies 

 up in order chapters dealing with the following subjects: Dead forest cover, 

 chemical role of the cover, physical role of the dead cover, deterioration of soil 

 due to removal of dead cover, living cover, decomposition of dead cover and 

 formation of neutral humus by eremacausis, mixture of humus and mineral 

 soil constituents, crude or partially formed humus, peaty humus and peat beds 

 in forests, chemical properties of forest soils, exhaustion of soils by forest 

 growth, physical properties of forest soils, soil moisture and the forest, the 

 forest and underground water, the distribution of forests in relation to the geo- 

 logical areas of France, types of forest soils, and improvement of forest soils. 



Tables are added at the end which give analyses of a large number of soils 

 of typical forest areas in France. 



Soil analysis, R. F. Hare {New Mexico Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. 32-35, 36-38).— 

 Chemical examinations of mesa land used for experimental purposes at the sta- 

 tion are reported, showing a marked deficiency of nitrogen and humus in these 

 soils. 



Soils, B. C. Aston {Neio Zeal. Dept. Agr. Ann. Rpt., 16 {1908), pp. 290- 

 312). — Chemical analyses of a large number of soils from dilTereut parts of 

 New Zealand made in pursuance of a pi'oposed complete soil survey of the 

 country are reported, with brief discussion of certain peculiar types of soils 

 which were encountered in the examination. 



Netherlands soils and Rhine and Maas deposits of the more recent terti- 

 ary and the older diluvial periods, P. Tesch {Der Niederldndische Bodcn mid 

 die Ablagcrungcn dcs Rheines und der Maas aus der jiingercn Trrtidr- nnd der 

 iilteren Diluvialzeit. Proefschr. Tech. Hoogeschool Delft, 1908, pp. 7 '/, pi. 1 ) . — 

 The results of examinations of samples obtained froili borings in different parts 

 of north Limburg are reiiorted and discussed with relation to previous geo- 

 logical investigations of a similar character. 



Soil of acid reaction, Y. Kozai {Cliem. Ztg., 32 {1908), No. 98, p. 1187; aljs. 

 in Jour. Cliem. Soc. [London], 96 {1909), No. 555, II, p. 87; Cliem. Zcntbl., 

 1909, I, No. 3, p. 209; Cliem. Abs., 3 {1909), No. 9, p. i 052). —Attention is called 

 to a peculiar soil of acid reaction found near Tokyo. It contained hydrated 

 silicates, particularly clays, and when a sample free from humus was washed 

 with water the acidity remained unchanged, but when a soluble neutral salt 

 such as potassium chlorid or ammonium sulphate was added, a soluble acid 

 was detected at once. Apparently the potassium or ammonium was absorbed 

 by the clay with the liberation of hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. As a result 

 the productiveness of the soil was decreased by applications of such potash or 

 ammonium salts. 



The erosion of the veld, A. C. A. Van Rooy {Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 

 34 {1909), No. 2, pp. 158-165). — This is a discussion of the serious loss of soil 

 and water which is occurring in the cattle-raising regions of South Africa. 



Soil resources and their utilization, M. E. Carb {Penn. Dept. Agr. Bui. 169, 

 pp. 57-67). — This article points out that our agricultural production has here- 



