SOILS FERTILIZERS. 311 



The removal of over OS per cent of the total bacteria of crncle sewage re- 

 quires •• the application of from 5 to 10 parts per million of available clilorin, 

 the amount depending on the character of the sewage. Such disinfection costs 

 from $1.50 to $8.50 per million gallons." 



In the investigations on putrescibility and stability of sewage effluents the 

 aim was to establish a definite and stable standard of comparison based upon 

 -the ,1 mount of oxygen which the effluent will eventually require before it 

 will liave become perfectly stable. The amount of this available oxygen is 

 es:iniated fairly well by the chemical determination of dissolved oxygen and 

 nitrates." 



It is believed that " in general, effluents having a relative stability greater 

 than 90 per cent may be discharged into any stream without danger of their 

 consuming any of the oxygen of the water, because effluents of such high 

 stability will retain oxygen indefinitely on exposure to the air." 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Handbook of moor culture, W. Bersch {Hamlhuch dcr Moorlvidiur. Vienna 

 and Leipsic, 1909, pp. XII +288. pis. 8, figs. //I).— This book supplements earlier 

 treatises on the subject and embodies the results of the recent rapid progress 

 in moor culture. It treats of the origin and formation of moors, classes of 

 moors, chemistry and physiology of moor soils, cultivation of moors, moor agri- 

 culture, moor forestry, meadows and pastures on moors, suppression of weeds, 

 moor cover, and cost and economy of moor culture. 



Soil surveys as related to geology, H. B. Kummel {Ann. Rpt. N. J. Bd. 

 Agr., 36 (1908), pp. 162-169).— The importance of soil surveys as an aid to the 

 better utilization of soils is emphasized, and it is stated that such a survey is 

 about to be undertaken jointly by the New Jersey State Station and the State 

 geological survey. 



This survey " will include a chemical examination to determine the chemical 

 composition of the soils and subsoils and the amounts of plant food present ; a 

 mechanical examination to determine the mechanical condition of the soil, its 

 fineness or coarseness; its porosity or imperviousness, etc. It will also include 

 an agricultural examination to determine the nature and quantity of crops now 

 produced, and all will be based upon the topographic and geological investiga- 

 tions of the past 40 years." 



Analyses of soils of Formosa, Argentina, J. J. Bolla and F. Lavenir 

 {Cron. Agr. \ Argentina], 2 (1908), No. ■), pp. 67-72).— Mechanical and chemical 

 analyses of 20 samiiles of soils from this district are reporter!. 



An interesting soil problem, K. D. Watt {Transvaal Agr. Jour., 7 {1909), 

 No. 27, pp. Ji28, Jf29). — Analyses are given of samples of a soil which is thought 

 to have been rendered unproductive I)y the presence of ferrous salts. 



Acid soils, A. W. Blair (Florida Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. AM\YF--TXX/X).— Ex- 

 aminations of soils with reference to depth, acidity, and nitrogen content made 

 since the issue of Bulletin 93 of the station (E. S. R.. 20, p. 116) are here re- 

 ported. 



These soils included samples from the high pine, spruce pine, and flat woods 

 regions and from palmetto hannnocks. Of the 103 samples of soils and subsoils 

 examined, 89 were tested for acidity by Veitch's limewater method and in 00 

 nitrogpn were determined. Eighty-seven per cent of the cultivated soils. 61 per 

 cent of the. cultivated subsoils, 40 per cent of the deeper subsoils, and none of 

 the virgin soils were found to be acid. The nitrogen content of soils bearing 

 citrus fruits was found to be very low. 



