880 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



organic materials employed in agriculture. lu carrying out this design it lias been 

 necessary to treat the subject not only fi-om the chemical point of view, but also 

 from the standpoint of bacteriology, plant i)hysiology. and physics. For this reason 

 the treatise will prove valuable to the hygienist, geologist, and others as well as to 

 the tiller of the soil. 



Although the woik is rery voluminous and exhaustive, and will appeal most 

 strongly to the investigator or advanced student, the author has succeeded in stat- 

 ing fundamental facts and principles so clearly that it will prove useful to the less 

 scientific reader. 



The scope and character of the work is indicated by the following list of the sub- 

 jects treated: 



(1) The cheiuical and physiological processes involved in the decomposition of 

 organic matter, including the chemical transformations; the rule of the lower organ- 

 isms and of animals in this decomposition; morphology, occurrence, distribution, 

 and conditions of growth of the microorganisms to which the decomposition is due; 

 the conditions under which the decomposition of organic matter takes place; and 

 the character of decomposition processes as they occur in nature. 



(2) The products of the decomposition of organic matter (humus compounds), 

 including the source and nature of the humus of the soil ; classification, and chem- 

 ical, physical, and other properties of the various humus compounds; and the influ- 

 ence of humus on the fertility of soils. 



(3) Artificial means of controlling the decomposition of organic matter, including 

 the alteration of the physical and chemical properties of the soil, the handling and 

 management of organic manures, and the preservation of feeding stutfs. 



The improvement of light lands by green manuring (Xew Jerseij Stas. Rpt. 1S95, 

 pp. 113-116). — This is a brief report of progress in experiments, one of which was 

 commenced in 1893 at Allaire and tlio other in 1894 at Moorestown (E. S. R., 7, p. 668). 



Naturally occurring fertilizers, F. T. Siiutt (Canada Exptl. Farms I!pi. 1895, p^). 

 20G-213). — Analyses of 17 samples of muck. 4 of mud, 1 of fern litter (Itracken), and 

 5 of moss litter are reported, together witii notes on the fertilizing value of these 

 substances and of green manures. 



On dolomitic marl, A. Maykr (Jour. Laiidw., 25 (1-597), No. 1, pp. 9-12). 



Night soil (L'Etifjrais, 12 (1897), No. 14, pp. 325, 326). 



Green manuring, B. Dyer (Jour. Rmj. Agl. Sac. England, ser. 3, 7 (1S96), IV, No. 28, 

 pp. 773-779). 



A new process for preserving barnyard manure, C. Dusseue (Chron. Agr. Cant. 

 Taud, 10 (1S97), No. 2, pp. 34-37). 



Loss in -weight of barnyard manure during the process of rotting, W. Saun- 

 ders (Canada KxpU. Farms I!pi. 1S95, p. 4:3).—yonT Ions (8,000 lbs.) of a mixture of 

 equal parts of horse manure and cow manure placed on boards under a shed was 

 turned and weighed every month for 9 months. At the end of that time the weight 

 was reduced to 2,(i00 pounds. 



Industrial fertilizers, F. T. Shutt (Canada Exptl. Farms Epi.lS95, JU^- 214-219).— 

 Analyses of shoddy wnste, tankage, slaughterhouse oflal, basic phosphate of lime 

 and potash, and ground apatite are reported, with a discussion of their fertilizing 

 value and notes on the preparation of available phosphoric acid from mineral phos- 

 phates and the preparation and use of superphosphates. 



Fertilizer analyses of the North Carolina fertilizer control, IT. B. Battle 

 (North Carolina Sta. Ept. lS95,pp. 1-25).— K reprint of Bulletin 111 of the station 

 (E. S. R., 7, p. 111). 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, F. W. Woll ( Wisconsin Sla. Bui. 53, pp. 4).— 

 Tabulated analyses and valuations of eleven fertilizers inspected under the provisions 

 of the State fertilizer law of 1895. 



Inspection of commercial fertilizers, R. C. Kedzie (Michigan Sta. Ept. 1895, pp. 

 325-339).— k reprint of Bulletin 112 of the station (E. S. R., G, p. 401). 



Biology of phosphates (VEngrais, 12 (1S97), No. 14, jip. 328, 329). 



