SOILS FKK'riLIZHKS. ^ 1 i 



tent is generally large, but it is evident tliut the deconiiK)siti()n of the organic 

 matter has not yet proceeded very far. 



From the results as a whole the general conclusion is drawn that " where 

 drainage and culti\ation receive due attention, much of the soil in the Abitibi 

 distrii-t possesses sutlicient plant food to grow many remunerative crops." 



Soil analysis, W. II. Day (Ann. Rpt. Ontario Affr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 

 82 (1906). pp. 3.5, 36). — Mechanical analyses of 20 samples of soil from one 

 farm are reported. 



Soil acidity in its relation to lack of available phosphates, A. R. Whit- 

 son and C W. Stoduart {.Jour. Aiiicr. Cheiii. .S'oc, 29 {1901), No. 5, pp. 7J7- 

 7'.T,9). — This is a preliminary report on investigations more fully presented 

 elsewhere (E. S. R.. 18, p. 1024). 



Some mutual effects of tree-roots and grasses on soils, C. A. Jensen 

 {Science, n. ser., 25 {1907), No. 6'iS, pp. 87 1-87 J/). — Data are presented which 

 lead to the conclusion " thjjt seedling trees of tulip, dogwood, maple, cherry, and 

 pine retard growth of wheat when the latter is grown under conditions making 

 it necessary for the wheat roots to be in close physical relation with the tree 

 roots ; that this retarding effect differs with different species of tree seedlings ; 

 that the checking of wheat growth is greatest during the season when the tree 

 seedlings are most active physiologically, and this checking effect becomes less 

 as the season of physiological inactivity of the trees is approached. That in 

 the case of pine, at least, the live pine is much more detrimental to wheat 

 growth than the dead pine. 



" This injurious eft'ect of trees on wheat appears to be due to the excretion of 

 substances by the trees toxic to wheat growth." 



Marly subsoils and the chlorosis or yellowing of citrus trees, E. W. Hil- 

 GARD {California Sta. Circ. 27. pp. .'/). — Cases of. injury to citrus trees from cal- 

 careous subsoils are cited as an illustration of the necessity of carefully studying 

 subsoils before planting orchards, and attention is called to the relation between 

 native vegetation and the cbai-acter of soil and subsoil as furnishing a practical 

 means of judging soil conditions. 



Treatment of peat soils, W. H. Day {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. 

 Farm, 32 {1906), pp. 3.3-35). — In continuation of experiments of the previous 

 year (E. S. R., 17, p. 841), the effect of mixing various proportions of loam, lime, 

 sand, and marl with peat was studied. It was found that peat treated with a 

 moderate application of loam gave the best yield in both grain and straw of 

 oats. Marl and lime were also beneficial, but sand was not. 



Aeration of soils, W. H. Day (Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 

 32 {1906), pp. 36, 37). — The effect of forcing air once a day through 4-gal. 

 crocks of peat soil, in which wheat, barley, oats, peas, alfalfa, and soy beans 

 were grown, are reported. The aerated wheat and barley did not seem to do 

 quite as well as the unaerated. The other crops were, as a rule, benefited by 

 aeration. 



Soil temperatures {Alaska Stas. Rpt. 1906, pp. 67, 68). — Daily observations of 

 temperature at <! in. and 2 ft. below the surface of the ground and at 6 in. above, 

 at Sitka, from May 20 to October 12 and at Kenai from May 17 to September 30, 

 1!X)H. are recorded. 



Seed inoculation, D. Finlayson {Country Life [London], 21 {1907), No. 529, 

 pp. 257-259, fifiK. 8). — The history of investigation on this subject is briefly 

 reviewed and experiments by Professor Bottomley, of Kings College, are 

 reported. It is stated that 90 per cent of the 200 tests made with Professor 

 Bottomley's cultures in different parts of Great Britain were successful. Some 

 of the causes of failure are explained. 



