1917] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 319 



after oxidation agrees very closely with the titration values. The presence 

 of sulphites, which would also be titrated at this point, would tend to cause 

 high results for thiosulphate as calculated from the iodin value. If anything, 

 the gravimetric results for thiosulphate are a trifle higher than the titration 

 values, which point to an absence of sulphites, although this in itself is not 

 absolute proof of the fact." 



See also a previous note by Averitt (E. S. R., 36, p. 16). 



[Beport of the chemical division], C. H. Weight {Fiji Dept. Agr. Ann. Rpt. 

 1915, pp. 22-26). — These pages report brief notes on soil analysis, physical and 

 chemical constants of lemon grass oil distilled under varying conditions, and 

 the examination of bat guanos, limes and coral sand, mustard oil, coconut 

 products, lemons, and miscellaneous materials. 



Experiments on the conservation of fruits and vegetables by desiccation, 

 Y. Valvassoei {Atti R. Accad. Econ. Agr. Oeorg. Firenze, 5. ser., 13 {1916), No. 

 2. pp. 56-64, fig. 1). — This article briefly describes some experiments obtained 

 in a study of fruit and vegetable conservation by desiccation with heat, and 

 indicates the great economic importance of the industry. A table giving the 

 time necessary for sterilization, optimum temperatures and time necessary for 

 desiccation, and yield of finished product from 100 kg. of fresh material of a 

 number of vegetables is included. 



Instnictions for processing fruits and vegetables for exhibition only, .J. H. 

 Page (Bur. Mines, Manfrs. and Agr. [Ark.], Bid. 4 (1916), pp. 15). — This bul- 

 letin briefly describes procedures and gives formulas for preserving fruits and 

 vegetables for exhibition purposes. 



Report on vegetable dyestuffs, F. Maksdkn (Mysore Econ. Conf. [India], 

 Indus, and Com. Committee Bui. 31 (1916), pp. VII+15). — This is the report of 

 the work carried out by the dyeing expert to the Government of Madras in con- 

 nection with the utilization of indigenous or other materials in the dyeing in- 

 dustry. An introduction by A. Chatterton, director of industries and commerce 

 in Mysore, is included. 



From the results of the investigation it is concluded that the indigenous ma- 

 terials are incapable of meeting the demands which have been ci-eated by the 

 development of the manufacture of synthetic colors. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Measurement of the surface forces in soils, C. A. Shull (Bot. Gaz., 62 

 (1916), No. 1, pp. 1-Sl, figs. 5). — Experiments conducted at the universities of 

 Kansas and Chicago on the force with which particles of soils of varying fine- 

 ness retain moisture at different degrees of dryness and to devise a method for 

 measuring this force are reported. The soils used were heavy silt clay, fine 

 qiaartz sand, loam, very fine sandy loam, sand, and fine sand. 



The seeds of Xanthium pennsylvanicum were used to measure the moisture- 

 holding powers of the soils by firmly packing dry seeds of known weight in a 

 soil of known moisture content and allowing the forces tending to move the 

 moisture to reach equilibrium. The force with which these seeds absorb water 

 was first determined by the use of osmotic solutions and by the vapor pressure 

 equilibrium method, the former being found the more reliable. The air-dried 

 seeds showed an initial attraction for water of nearly 1,000 atmospheres, and 

 it was found that the attraction which exists at any moisture content between 

 saturation and air dryness can be approximated. 



In the experiments with soils it was found that the air-dry subsoil of the 

 silt loam held its hygroscopic moisture with about the same force as an air-dry 



