SOILS — FEBTTLtZERS. 1117 



Analysis of soils from Mt. Barker {Jour. Dciit. A(/r. West. Aiisf., 1.1 (IDtn), 

 No. JO, p. 7S3). — Tho total and available plant food in r> samples of soils from 

 this district of Western Australia is reported, with some discussion of their 

 fertilizer requirements. The region is of special interest because of its adapt- 

 ability to the cultivation of apples for export. 



On the types of " Szik " soils of the Hungarian Alfbld, A. von Sigmond 

 (FoUltani Kozlonn, JC (UtOti), Xo. 10-Li, pp. .',.j.9- ',,>.',; «/>.s. in Clinii. Ahs.. 1 

 il!>07), Xo. 2'f. pp. 30.311, iiaW).— " Szili " (salt) soil is the term generally ap- 

 plied in Hungary to soils rendered uni)rodnctive by excess of sodium salts. It 

 is, however, applied to other unproductive soils which contain little or no sodium 

 salts, viz, stiff, compact, fine-grained (not larger than 0.5 mm. in diameter) 

 soils, through which water percolates slowly and which form hard crusts on 

 drying. These soils leave comparatively small residues and yield to solution 

 comparatively large amounts of silica, iron, alumina, and calcium compounds 

 when treated with strong acids (as in ordinary soil analysis). The clay con- 

 tent increases with the depth, as does the calcium carbonate. 



In general it appears that the " szik" soils are but moderately weathered and 

 slightly leached. The most common sodium salt is the sulphate. The stilT 

 "szik" soils are variable in soluble salt content and the author sei)arates them 

 in this article into (1) those containing less than 0.1 per cent of alkali, which 

 under otherwise favorable conditions and with addition of lime and humus, 

 which are frequently deficient, are productive, and (2) those containing more 

 than 0.1 per cent alkali, which are unproductive. 



The true alkali (soda) soils are grouped as sandy, loam, and clay soils. 

 These soils are generally underlain l>y a hardpan, are strongly alkaline in reac- 

 tion, and form an alkali crust on the surface. The soils of this group contain 

 a maximum of 2 to 2.5 per cent of soluble salts, mainly sodium carbonate and 

 chlorid. 



Alkali soils, their nature and reclamation, F. T. Shutt {Canada Cent. E.rpt. 

 Farm JiiiL .',, 2. .scr., pit. J I, ph'<. 2; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indm., 27 (1!)08), 

 No. 10, p. ,513). — ■'• In this bulletin the origin of the different sorts of 'alliali' 

 soils is discussed, also their composition and characteristics, and methods of 

 treatment are suggested whereby the alkali in such soils may be lessened or re- 

 moved." Information is also given as to the crops adapted to alkali soils. The 

 information given in the bulletin is suited especially to the use of '* farmers 

 living in those parts of the great Northwest plains and British Columbia where 

 alkali is occasionally found." 



Comparative investigations on the results of chemical soil analysis and 

 vegetation experiments, K. Opitz (Landw. Jahrb., 36 (1907), No. 5-6, pp. 

 !H/!)-!).i2; ah.s. in Vhcni. Znithl., Jim, I, No. 3, p. 28r) ; Chcm. Ztfj., 32 (1908), No. 

 J.5, llcpcri.. p. DO; Jour. Chcm. 8oc. \London], D't (JDOS), No. ',',7, II. p. '121).— 

 Investigations on a large number of Hessian soils are reported in which an 

 attemi)t was made to compare the results of pot experiments with oats with 

 the chemical composition as shown by solubility of the phosphoric acid, ]iotash, 

 and lime in 10 per cent hydrochloric acid, the soils being digested in the latter 

 for 3 hours in a boiling water bath with constant stirring. 



The results show that only from 10 to 11 per cent of both light and heavy soils 

 examined by the author contained a sufficient amount of easily soluble phos- 

 phoric acid. Al»()ut 5.5 per cent of the heavy soils and .50 per cent of the light 

 soils contained a sufbcient amount of easily soluble i)()tash comi»<>unds. As a 

 rule 0.1 per cent of pl>osi)horic acid soluble in 10 per cent hydrochloric acid may 

 be considered sutticient. Heavy soils containing less than 0.1 per cent of jiotash 

 soluble in 10 per cent hydrochloric acid may be considered in need of easily 

 soluble potash. Light soils containing over 0.1 per cent of jtotash may with 



