AIR WATER SOILS. 1021 



returns on soils kept in a crumbly condition than on soils reduced to a 

 powder-like fineness, and that the action of fertilizers was also much 

 more evident on the former than on the latter soils. The author recom- 

 mends fall jdowing for laud which is to be planted in the spring. It is 

 shown that stirring or hoeing the surface is beneficial when the soil has 

 been packed by rains and that the practice is detrimental during drought 

 when the soil is already in a good mechanical condition. The results 

 of tests show that rolling the land favored a uniform sprouting of the 

 seed, but in general the yield of the rolled plats was smaller than on 

 the plats which had not been rolled. Packing the surface soil by means 

 of a roller was detrimental to plant growth when the soil was not sub- 

 sequently stirred, but cultivating the soil after rolling precluded any 

 bad effects from this source. 



A comparison of bed and level culture gave the following results: 

 The yields of plants on bedded plats was greatest at the ridges aud 

 smallest at the furrows; the south side of beds gave the best results, 

 followed by the east, west, and north sides in the order mentioned; the 

 south side of beds running east and west produced larger yields than 

 the north side when moisture conditions were favorable, but during dry 

 seasons the north sides gave the best returns. In general the results 

 were in favor of level culture. 



Report on fertilization, W. Maxwell (Rpts. Hawaiian Expt. Sta., 

 1S98, pp. 1-14). — This article discusses the fertilizing constituents of 

 upland and lowland Hawaiian soils soluble in hydrochloric acid, water, 

 and aspartic acid (E. S. R., 10, p. 531); the fertilizing constituents 

 removed from the soil by the sugar-cane crop; the absorptive power of 

 sods for different fertilizing chemicals and the inlluence of the latter 

 upon the lime content of the soils. 



Of 227 gm. of nitrate of soda applied to the soil in a lysimeter, 

 water applied after 48 hours removed 180.3 gm. Of like amounts of 

 potash and phosphoric acid, water removed 43.6 and 3.2 gm., respec- 

 tively. In a second experiment, of 200 gm. nitrate of soda applied, 

 water removed as nitrate 72.5G gm.; of 200 gm. of sulphate of ammonia 

 applied, water removed 3.08 gm. as nitrate and 0.44 gin. as ammonia. 



"In connection with the lysimeter observations, tests were made in order to note 

 the action of the different acids in applied fertilizers upon the lime in sails. The 

 acids used were nitric acid (as nitrate of soda), hydrochloric acid (as chlorid of 

 potash), and sulphuric acid (as sulphates of ammonia and potash). Those several 

 salts were applied and 48 hours later the rows of cane, growing over the lysimeter 

 drains, were irrigated, 102 gal. being applied to each row, of which 33 gal. h-ached 

 out, this drainage being analyzed — 



