920 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The chemical composition of some Texas soils, G. S. Fraps (Texas Sta. 

 Bui. 100, pp. 8). — This Is ii popular account of results of a study of a number 

 of representative Texas soils, samples of which were collected in connection 

 with the soil surveys of the Bureau of Soils of tliis Department. The soil types 

 and areas represented are described and the fertilizer requirements of the indi- 

 vidual soils are discussed. 



Preliminary report on surface soils from the Abitibi region, F. T. Shutt 

 {CaiKida Expt. Farms Rpts. 1906, pp. 153-155). — Aualyses of 13 samples from 

 this region are reported. These show in a majority of cases a low percentage, 

 or deficiency, of nitrogen. As a class the soils are designated as retentive and 

 lasting, and are in general such as will be improved by drainage and a rotation 

 of crops which will increase their humus and nitrogen contents. 



Notes on the character of the soil between Langdon and Gleichen, Al- 

 berta, in w^estern section of irrigation block of the Canadian Pacific Rail- 

 way Company, F. T. Shutt {Canada Expt. Farms Rpts. 1906, pp. 194-196). — 

 This is a brief report prepared from notes taken during a rapid survey of this 

 region. 



An investigation of soils of southern Sweden, M. Weibull (K, Landtbr. 

 Akad. Hand!, och Tldslcr., J,6 {1901), Xo. 2-3, pp. 107-178, fiys. 4).— The paper 

 presents a critical study of the results of chemical and mechanical analyses of 

 Scania soils and of fertilizer trials with these soils made by the author since 

 1900, the object in view being to classify the soils and to examine in how far the 

 results of the soil analyses furnish data of practical importance for this region. 

 See also a previous note (E. S. R., 19, p. 515). The analytical data include me- 

 chanical analyses, determinations of loss on ignition, hygroscopic water, nitro- 

 gen, phosphoric acid, potash, lime, iron, and alumina, and also petrographic and 

 geological examinations. The classification of the soils — which are in the ma- 

 jority of cases light glacial clays — was made according to their contents of 

 alumina soluble in boiling concentrated sulphuric acid (kaolin and zeolite con- 

 tent), gravel, humus, and lime c(mtent. as follows: 



(A) Mineral soils: 



(1) Low in lime, humus, and gravel (less than 10 per cent lime and 



humus, and 20 per cent stone and gravel) — 



(a) Stiff clays containing more than 7.5 per cent sulphuric-acid- 



soluble alumina. 



(b) Medium clays containing 5 to 7 per cent sulphuric-acid-soluble 



alumina. 



(c) Light clays containing 2.5 to 5 per cent sulphuric-acid-soluble 



alumina. 



(d) Clayey sandy soils containing 1.25 to 2.5 per cent sulphuric- 



acid-soluble alumina. 



(e) Sandy soils containing less than 1.25 per cent sulphuric-acid- 



soluble alumina. 



(2) High in lime, containing more than 10 per cent lime. 



(3) High in humus, 10 to 20 per cent loss on ignition (" humus "). 



(4) Gravel and stony soils, containing more than 20 per cent stones or 



gravel. 



(B) Humus soils more than 20 per cent loss on ignition. 



