FERTILIZERS. 731 



water. Waters contaminated by drainage from the surface almost invariably con- 

 tain a much larger solid residue and a higher proportion of chlorin than unpolluted 

 water. 



The conveyance of bacteria by underground water, E. Pfuhl (Ztschr. Hyg. 

 u. Infectionskrarik., 1897, p. 549; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., 17 {1898), No. 7, p. 

 687). — By means of pits dug to the water level in gravelly soil it was found that 

 Micrococcus prodigiosus and fluorescent Vibrio were carried by the ground water 

 through 8 meters (26.25 ft.) of soil in from 1 to 2 hours. "In further experiments 

 the prodigiosus bacilli were found to pass iuto the supply of a tube well drawing its 

 water through gravel for a distance of 3.7 meters (12.14 ft.) from the point where 

 the cultures of bacteria were introduced into the water near the surface." 



Studies on the composition of nitrate-bearing soil from the site of ancient 

 Cairo, J. Zamaron (Bui. Assoc. Chim. Sucr. et Distill, 16 (1898), No. 6, }>P- ■'■'>■'• 

 554). — Analyses of the soil from ancient rubbish heaps are reported, which show, 

 among other things, an average of 2.19 per cent of nitric nitrogen, corresponding to 

 4.1 per cent of potassium nitrate. 



On the influence of crops and manure on the nitrogen content of soils, C. F. A. 

 Tuxens (Landw. Vers. Stat., 50 (1898), No. 5-6, pp. 335-342).— For an abstract of this 

 article as it appeared in another journal, see E. S. R., 10, p. 425. 



On the pulverization of the soil, M. Ringelmann (Jour.- Agr. Prat., 1898, II, 

 No. 42, pp. 558-561, Jig. 1). — A popular discussion of this subject. 



Treatment of the soil; a question for the consideration of the farmers, W. G. 

 Waring (Tyrone, Pa.: Tyrone Times, 1898, pp. 11). 



The bringing of soil under culture, M. Ringelmann (Jour. Agr. Prat., 1899, I, 

 No. 3, pp. 92, 93). — A brief, popular note on this subject. 



On the cultivation of the soil, E. Wollny (Deut. Landw. Presse, 25 (1S98), No. 

 80, pp. 856, 857; 88, pp. 932, 933; 89, pp. 941, 942).— A discussion of the physical 

 properties of soils in their relation to cultivation. 



Drainage of the soil, S. Guerand de Laharpe (Jour. Agr. Prat., 1898, II, No. 50, 

 pp. 846-849). — The advantages of drainage are discussed in a popular way. 



The relative sensitiveness of plants to acidity in s(5il, W. Maxwell (Landw. 

 Vers. Stat., 50 (1898), No. 5-6, pp. 325-330) .—See E. S. R., 10, p. 128. 



The inoculation of soils, A. Hertzog (Monatsber. Gesell. Ford. Wiss. Ackerbaues 

 u. Kiinste Unter Elsass, 32 (1898), No. 7, pp. 439-467).— Reports inoculation experi- 

 ments with germ-containing soils and with pure cultures for nitrogen assimilation. 

 Nitragin was successfully tested, aud a trial of Alinit is contemplated. 



Soil inoculation, Tancre (Landw. Wchribl. Schlesivig-Holstein, 48 (1898), No. 17, 

 pp. 290-293). 



FERTILIZERS. 



On the spreading and plowing under of barnyard manure, P. P. 



Deherain (Gompt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 127 (1898), No. 14, pp. 469- 

 472; Ann. Agron., 24 (1898), No. 9, pp. 401-416 ; abs. in Rev. Sci., 4. ser., 10 

 (1898), No. 16, pp. 499,500). — For the purpose of throwing light upon 

 the losses of nitrogen which manure undergoes when placed in heaps 

 in the field and allowed to remain some time before spreading, the 

 author placed 10 gm. of manure in a wide glass tube and passed a cur- 

 rent of air through it, determining the amounts of carbonic acid and 

 ammonia in the gases which passed off. Of the 32 mg. of ammoniacal 

 nitrogen originally present in the sample, 23.9 mg. passed off under 

 this treatment in 2 days. The evolution of ammonia gradually decreased 

 after this period, but at the end of 26 days 31.8 mg. of ammoniacal 

 nitrogen had escaped. The evolution of carbon dioxid, however, con- 

 tinued quite. uniform throughout the experiment, 590.4 mg. of this gas 

 being obtained. 



