SOILS— FKKTILIZERri. 617 



of Rainfall, by II. Uannett ; Floods, by -M. O. Loigiitou; Developed Water Pow- 

 ers, compiled imder tlie direction of W. M. Steuart, with discussion by M. O. 

 Leigbtou ; T'udeveloped Water Powers, by M. O. lieigbtiMi ; Irrigation, by F. H. 

 Newell; Underground Waters, by W. C. Mendenhall; Denudation, by K. B. 

 Dole and H. Stabler ; and Control of Catchment Areas, by II. N. Parker. 



Chemical composition of Nile waters, W. Beam {Ri)t. Wellcome Research 

 Lahs. Gordon Mem. Col. Kharfoiim, 3 (1008), pp. 3S6-395). — The suspended 

 matter carried by the >sile and its tributaries, as well as the chemical composi- 

 tion of the water at different periods, are reported and discussed, special at- 

 tention being given to the factors (particularly soluble alkaline salts) con- 

 trolling the amount of susiiended matter. 



On the silt deposit of some rivers in the Sera joe Valley, E. C. J. Moiie 

 {Medeil. Dept. Landh. [Dutch East Indies], 1908, No. 5, pp. 95, pi. 1, dgms. 5, 

 map I). — This comprehensive report describes the local features and physical 

 characteristics of the more important tributaries of the Sera joe, and gives the 

 results of investigations of the waters of these tributaries and of the Sei'ajoe at 

 different points. The examination of the waters included the determination of 

 the silt content ; the relation between silt content and stream height, rate of 

 tlow, discharge, and rainfall ; mechanical analysis of the silt ; character of silt 

 (white and brown) ; and chemical analysis of the silt and of the water. 



The conclusions drawn are chiefly local in their application. From a com- 

 parison of the amounts of potash, lime, and phosphoric acid found in the water 

 and in the silt, the conclusion is drawn that more available plant food comes 

 upon the fields in solution in the irrigation water than in the silt. 



The purification of drinking; water with chlorin or hypochlorites, Thresh 

 {O.sten: Chcm. Ztg., Li il'.W'.l), No. 16. pp. 207, 208; Che.m. 7Ag., 33 (1909), No. 

 (>9, p. 626). — Investigation showed that water to which the addition of 1 part 

 of chlorin to 1,000,000 parts of water was made was practically sterile, and 

 that the cost involved for the process was very light. The chlorin was mostly 

 removed by filtration through a bed having a very thin layer of iron or a 

 slightly thicker one of aluminum. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Soil moisture investigations, E. Nelson (Idaho Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. 29-37). — 

 Observations on the effect of fall irrigation on soil moisture are reported, which 

 show that there was a considerable loss of moisture from fall irrigated land 

 during the winter and that it is i)ossible to store only a limited amount of 

 moisture in the soil by means of fall irrigation. Tests of the effect of sub- 

 soiling on soil moisture gave inconclusive results. 



Experiments in cropping alternate years, with a summer fallow inter\cniug. 

 showed that little moisture was lost from the soil in case of tlie summer fallow 

 when a dry soil mulch was maintained on the surface of the soil. Incidentally 

 chemical j'.nalyses of the surface soil, subsoil, hardpan, and clay on the farm 

 of the substation at Caldwell, at which the al)ove experiments were made, are 

 reported, as well as data for ])recipitation during lOOS and weekly observations 

 on evajioi-ation from .March IT to October ^'2. 1!)0S. 



Field operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1906 (eighth report), M. Whit- 

 ney ET AL. (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1906, pp. 

 1033, figs. 3//, viaps 35). — This report contains a general review of the work of 

 the Bureau of Soils during 1900, by the Chief of the Bureau, together with 

 detailed accounts of the following surveys: 



Merrimack County, N. H., by V.. N. Mooney, II. li. Westover, and F. Bennett ; 

 Niagara County, N. Y., E. O. Fiiipiu, ({. li. .Tones, W. .1. (leib. O. L. Ayrs, and 



