516 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Studies on the soils from the northern portion of the Great Plains region. 

 The distribution of carbonates on the second steppe, F. .7. Alway ami U. K. 

 McDoLE (Amer. Chem. Jour., 31 {1901), No. S. pij. 21o-2S3). — Previous soil 

 studies by the same autbors have already been noted (E. S. R., IS, p. 615). The 

 present contribution reports determinations of carbon dioxid and liygr()Scoi)ic 

 coefficients of 72 samples of soils from the region named. 



The results show that all soils from the second steppe are well provided with 

 carbonates, the subsoils containing more than the corresponding surface soils 

 and subsoils of bowlder clay being much richer than those composed of clay of 

 lacustral origin. The carbonates are found chiefly in the soil grains of inter- 

 mediate size, namely, the silts. A high percentage of carbonates was with 

 marked regularity associated with a low hygroscopic coefficient. 



The so-called alkali spots of the younger drift sheets, O. W. Willcox 

 (Jour. OeoL, 13 {1903), No. 3, pp. 259-263; ahs. in Chcm. Zcnthl, 1901, I, No. 

 2Ii, p. 1102). — The occurrence of unproductive alkali spots in soils in various 

 parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana is noted. The white efflores- 

 cence on these spots consists mainly of cai'bonate and sulphate of magnesium 

 and calcium and a little sodium chlorid. The magnesium sulphate is consid- 

 ered to be the iujurious constituent. 



The salt content of polders flooded with sea water March 12, 1906, D. J. 

 HissiNK (Het Zoutgchaltc ran de op 12 Alaart 1906 oudcrgclooprn Zccincschr 

 Polders. The Hague, 1901, pp. 29). — Studies of the amount and distribution 

 of salts added to the soil by the sea water and their influence upon the original 

 constituents of the soil, and the eflrect of drainage and application of lime, etc., 

 in the reclamation of these salted lands, are reported. 



Reference of soils to fruit requirements, C. E. Bradley (Better Fruit, 2 

 (1901), No. 1, pp. 9. 10). — The origin, general character, and average composi- 

 tion of the soils of Oregon, as shown by studies made by the experiment station, 

 are briefly discussed, as well as the draft of difl:erent kinds of fruits on the 

 fertilizing constituents of the soil. 



It is shown that fruit trees are quite heavy feeders and that they use espe- 

 cially large amounts of potash. "An examination of some old orchard soils 

 of our State, recently made by the experiment station, fails to show, however, 

 any marked depletion of potash in the soil, a significant fact as regards its 

 lasting qualities. It is true, however, that in general trees feed deep and conse- 

 quently have a greater available supply than a shallow feeding crop."' 



Wire-basket method of testing soils, R. C. Aston (New Zeal. Dept. Agr.. 

 Chem. Dir. Bui. 2. pp. 11, pis. 10). — A description of this method reprinted from 

 Circular IS of the Bureau of Soils of this Department (E. S. R., IS, p. 12) is 

 given, with an account of tests of the method on two New Zealand soils of 

 widely differing character. Generalizations are reserved until the results have 

 been checked by field experiments. 



Pot experiments with fertilizers, B. C. Aston (Rpt. Bicn. Conf. Agr. and 

 Past. Assoes. New Zeal, 1 (1901), pp. 35-38). — Field experiments with turnips 

 are reported, the results confirming in general those obtained in experiments 

 with the wire-basket method of the Bureau of Soils noted above. 



Soil fertility (Bol. Min. Fomento [Peru], 5 (1901), No. S, pp. 32-19).— A 

 Spanish translation of Farmers' Bulletin 257 of this Department (E. S. R., IS, 

 p. 119). 



Changes in the chemical composition and productiveness of peat soils 

 under fertilization, B. Sjollema (Chem. WeekhL, .', (1901), pp. 365-369; abs. 

 in Chem. Zentbl., 1901, II, No. 5, p. l/2-'i). — Studies of moor soils near Groningen 

 on which the oat crop sickened and in some cases died are i-eported. 



q'he sick soils were found to be alkaliTie, while the healthy soils were de- 

 cidedly acid. The sick soils absorbed more soda and contained more lime 



