718 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Soil survey of Dubois, Perry, and Crawford counties, Indiana, C. W. 

 Shannon (/«(/. Dept. GcoL and Xat. Resources Ann. Ri>t.. S3 (1908). pp. 277- 

 3J,2, pis. 8, maps -^).— Observatious on the pbysiograpby, geology, climate, his- 

 tory of settlement and development, and soils of these 3 counties, embracing 

 an area of about 1,015 square miles, are reported with a discussion of the plant 

 food in the soils and their fertilizer requirements. These surveys were made 

 under the direction of the department of geology and natural resources of the 

 State and are supplementary to a number of similar surveys which have been 

 made in diftereut parts of the State by the Bureau of Soils of this Department. 



Reviewing the results of the surveys, it is stated that they show a marked 

 deficiency of plant food in southern Indiana soils due to the fact that these 

 soils are derived from formations containing but small amounts of the elements 

 of plant food. The soils are low in organic matter and of such texture as to 

 be difficult of cultivation in many cases. The use of raw phosphate and of 

 leguminous crops as green manure in rotation with grain crops and potatoes is 

 recommended as a means of improving the soils. Advice is also given as to 

 the use of commercial fertilizers. 



Soil survey of Daviess County, L. C. Snider {Ind. Dept. GcoJ. and Xat. 

 Resources Ann. Rpt., 33 (1908), pp. 3-'t3-357, pis. 2, map 1). — A survey similar 

 to those noted above is reported. It is stated that 4 general types of soils occur 

 in this county, namely, river and stream bottoms, sand, marsh or prairie areas, 

 and upland clay. Many of the soils are quite productive. The predominance 

 of clay soils makes the production of staple crops, corn, wheat, hay, and live 

 stock, the leading agricultural feature of the region. 



Surface geology of Michigan, A. C. Lane (Rpt. Bd. GcoL Survey Mich., 1907, 

 pp. 89-152, pis. J, figs, l.'i, maps 2). — This report is intended "as an introduc- 

 tion to the surface geology of the State and its bearing on the study of the soils, 

 surface deposits, and physical geography, for the use of our public school 

 teachers and their pupils, and as a key to the large scale maps of the surface 

 geology," which are being prepared. Types of Michigan soils are described 

 under dune sand, muck, peat, and meadow soils, and Clyde, Marshall gravel, 

 Superior, and Miami soil types as defined by the Bureau of Soils of this De- 

 partment. 



Eesults of analyses of cultivated soils, F. F. Yillasexor (Mem. y Rev. Soc. 

 Cient. "Antonio Alzate," 21 (1908), No. 1, pp. 19-28). — Physical and chemical 

 analyses of a number of samples from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, are reported. 



The soils of Nevis, F. Watts and H. A. Tempany ( West Indian Buh, 10 

 (1909), No. 1, pp. 60-79, dgms. U,; ahs. in Cliem. Ahs., 3 (1909), No. 18. pp. 

 2191, 2192) .—In further study of the soils of the Leeward Islands, chemical 

 and physical analyses of a number of samples of soils of Nevis were made and 

 the results are briefly summarized. 



Notes on the soils of Bengal, D. N. Mookerjee (Indian Ayr.. 3'/ (1909), Nos. 

 7, pp. 217-220; 8, pp. 253, 25'/). — The geological origin and formation of the 

 soils of this region are briefly discussed and typical soils are described. 



Physico-chemical properties of Russian black soil, B. Kuriloff (Abs. in 

 Chem. Ztg., 33 (1909), No. 71, p. 653). — The properties of the Russian black 

 soil are described with the aid of tabular data and diagrams based upon 

 chemical analyses of the soil. 



The value of the present-day soil analysis, C. Bi.och and M. Hoffmann 

 (Mitt. Landiv. Inst. Breslau, // (1907), No. 1-2, pp. 305-319; aJ)s. in Chem. 

 Zenthl., 1909, I, No. .',, p. 318; Chem. Ahs., 3 (1909), No. 19, p. 2337).— Studies 

 of the accuracy of the determination of mineral constituents in carefully sam- 

 pled soils are reported, indicating that even with the greatest care there are 



