316 



and of sea island cotton and ri<e land soils near the coast of South Caro- 

 lina; a description of the methods of sampling and analysis used; a 

 discussion of the results; and remarks on the requisites of a good soil, 

 on soil analysis in general, with citations from diliereut somces, and 

 on the interpretation of the results of soil examinations, with Professor 

 Hilgard's conclusions on the composition of soils as stated by him in 

 the rej>ort on cotton culture, Tentii United States Census, vol. V. Sam- 

 ples were taken of soil and subsoil of each of the (experimental farms, 

 which were situated in three representative localities, and separate anal- 

 yses were made of each sample. In additi(»n to the results of the 

 mechanical and chemical analyses, tlie calculated number of soil particles 

 per gram of soil and their c<)mbined surface ar«'a are stated for each 

 grade of the soil and subsoil of ea<h farm. "In cuderto ascertain how 

 nuich hygroscopic moisture was absorbed [by each grade of soil parti- 

 cles] from an atmosphere saturated with moisture, tests were made on a 

 soil from the Si>artanburg farm, which contjiined 11.2 per cent of ferric 

 oxide, all of which was contained in the silt an«l clay." The ditterent 

 sized particles were exposed for a time at 70-' F., and then the percent- 

 ages of moisture lost by the ditterent grades in heating at 200° C. were 

 determined. The tabulated results indicate that the i)ercentag«'S of 

 moisture given ott""increase with the lessening tiiaiiieters of the grains." 

 The autluu' concludes from this trial aii<l fiom results ol»taiii»<l by 

 Profess(U- llilgard that "It-rric oxide ch-arly has a large intliimce in 

 giving soils a large absorpti(»n coellicient." 



Kepoktof Vice i)iHE('TOK,M. Whitnev (])1). 44-lH)). 



Mctcorolofiy and Ihr phiisicttl properties of soils <is related ti) plant (/roicth 

 and crop J) rod net ion {\t\t. 44-S4 and S(>-«M»). — This incbnles remarks on the 

 value of the sta]»le croi)s of the State for e\])erimentation, on the s»>ils 

 of the State, and on the study of tyi»ical soils of the State. The investi- 

 gations include laboratory exi)erinu'nts on the soils of the station 

 farms, sea island ui»lan<l c»ttton soils, and ui>lan(l soils of different 

 geological formations, su]»[>lemented by ol»scr\ ations in the field and 

 by meteoroh)gical studies. The scojic «»! the work undertaken is 

 indicated by the following brief outline: (I) interi)retation of the 

 Jesuits of mechanical analysis, inclnding studies on the number (»f par- 

 :ticles in a unit weight or volume (►f soil, on the diameter of average- 

 :si7,ed particles of soil and the nu'an arrangement of the particles, 

 and on the surface area of particles, tin' latt<M' showing the need of still 

 further perfecting the method of nu'chanical analysis of soils; (2) on 

 ;a movement of soil particles due to changing water content and chang- 

 ing temperature, as related to the growth of roots, and the physical 

 ;acti(m of manure, with the eftect of barometric changes ami vapor 

 pressure on the same; (3) method for the determination of themoistnre 

 ifli the soil by electrical resistance; (4) on the movement of soil moisture, 

 including the cause and lawsof the movenu'ut. and the elfect of temper- 

 ature,, manure, rain, cropping, and cultivation on this movement: (5) 



