WATER SOILS. 573 



Soils from Kamerun, Senegambia, and G-erman East Africa, 

 and an improved method of soil analysis, F. Wohltmann and 

 H. Kkatz {Jour. Lamlir., ii {isOU), Xo. 3, j)}). 211-234). — Analyses of 5 

 Kamerun, 3 French Senegambia, and 17 German East Africa soils are 

 reported and the results are discussed at some length. The Kamerun 

 soils were found to be much superior to the others. 



The essential features of the method of analysis used are as follows: 

 Put the soil through a 2-millimeter sieve, reducing the lumps with the 

 hand or with a wooden pestle. To 450 gm. of this fine soil add 1,500 

 cc. of cold hydrochloric acid (1.15 sp. gr.) and let stand 12 hours in the 

 cold, shaking hourly. Then let stand over night and repeat the same 

 treatment during the next 24 hours. Filter oft" 1,000 cc. of the solution 

 and determine the acid soluble constituents in the filtrate in the usual 

 manner. 



In these analyses determinations were made of silica, lime, mag- 

 nesia, phosi>horic acid, potash, iron, and alumina in the acid extract, 

 and water, volatile and combustible matter, and total and ammoniacal 

 nitrogen in the original soils. 



A brief discussion of the cultivated soils of Courland and 

 Livonia based on examinations made by the Riga Polytechnic 

 Institute, C. Tho3IS {Jour. Landw., 44 {1S96), ^^^o. 4, pp. 311-332).— 

 This is a review and continuation of previous investigations along this 

 line (E. S. E., 7, p. 663). The additional data relate especially to the 

 phosphoric acid of Livonia soils. The results of examinations of these 

 soils confirm those obtained on the Courland soils, viz, that produc- 

 tiveness runs parallel with the phosphoric acid content of the soils. 



The climate of Geneva, New York : Soil temperature obser- 

 vations, P. Collier {Xeic York State Sta. Bpt. lS94,pp. 138-140, 147, 

 148, 7S0-7S5).— Observations at 8 difterent depths (1-24 in.) during the 

 growing season (April-October) of the past 12 years are tabulated and 

 compared with air temperatures of the same period. It was observed 

 that the average monthly temperatures at each depth were approxi- 

 mately the same and not materially different from that of the air. 



"The average daily temperature taken at 12 m. is higher for depths of 1 and 2 

 in. than the observations at 6 p. m., but at depths of 3 in. and more the 6 p. m. 

 observations are the highest of the day, and this is true whatever the month of 

 observation. 



"At depths of 18 and 24 in. the temperatures are constant throughout the day, 

 whichever month is considered. 



"While the general daily average of all the months is nearly the same for each 

 depth, it is found that there is a general increase, though slight, in the temperatures 

 as [the depth increases]. . . . 



"An excess of temperature beyond a depth of 3 in. was found in the months of 

 August, September, and October, thus showing that in the latter portion of the 

 season a large reserve of heat has been stored up in the soil." 



A detailed daily summary of observations at the different depths 

 during 1894 is given. 



