1918] SOILS — FERTIIJZEBS. 19 



Characteristics of coli-like microorganisms from the soil, B. R. Johnson 

 and M. Lkvine {Jour. Bad., 2 {1911), No. 4, pp. 379-401, figs. 2). — Experiments 

 conducted at Iowa State College are reported " to determine (1) if the methyl- 

 red negative or Vosges-Proskauer positive organisms are the predominant coli- 

 like forms in soil, and (2) to study the characteristics of the various types of 

 aerobic lactose-fermenting organisms isolated from soils. Forty-two samples 

 were studied, including 9 from different parts of a corn field and 1 from a clover 

 field in Ames, Iowa, 13 from fallow, and 11 from cropped experimental plats, 

 4 from orchards, and 4 miscellaneous samples from different parts of the 

 State." 



It was found that under the conditions prevailing in Ames, Iowa, coli-like 

 bacteria were considerably more abundant in soils upon which crops were 

 growing than in absolutely fallow areas receiving similar soil treatment. The 

 Vosges-Proskauer and methyl-red reactions were well correlated. The cerogenes- 

 cloacce types, which give a positive Vosges-Proskauer reaction and are alkaline 

 to methyl-red in Clark and Lubs' peptone-di-potassium-phosphate-glucose solu- 

 tion, were the predominant coli-like forms in soil. " The cerogenes-cloacw group 

 may be differentiated from the coli group by the methyl-red of Vosges-Proskauer 

 reaction. Bacillus cerogenes differs from B. cloaccB in that it is nonmotile, 

 rarely liquefies gelatin, and forms gas from glycerol and corn starch." 



General fertilizer experiments, C. F. Noll {Pennsylvania Sta. Itpt. 1915, pp. 

 57-59). — Tabulated data are presented showing the yields of all crops on the 

 general fertilizer plats for the years 1912 to 1914, inclusive, in continuation of 

 work previously noted (E. S. R., 34, p. 128). See also Bulletin 146 (E. S. R., 

 37, p. 626). 



Fermentation of manure treated with sulphur and sulphates: Chang'es in 

 nitrogen and phosphorus content, J. W. Ames and T. E. Richmond {Soil Sci., 

 4 {1917), No. 1, pp. 79-89). — Experiments conducted at the Ohio Experiment 

 Station on the effects of sulphur, calcium sulphate, and acid phosphate upon 

 the changes occurring in solid horse manure and upon the nitrogen content 

 of cow urine are reported. 



It was found that the loss of dry matter from manure after fermenting for 

 250 days was 32.5 per cent in untreated manure and 21.8 per cent from manures 

 treated with acid phosphate and calcium sulphate, while the sulphur-treated 

 manure lost 18 per cent. Manures treated with acid phosphates, sulphur, and 

 calcium sulphate lost approximately 3.5 per cent of their total nitrogen, as com- 

 pared with a loss of 10.5 per cent from the untreated manure. The water- 

 soluble and nonprotein nitrogen were greatly reduced during fermentation. The 

 water-soluble phosphorus decreased in all the samples, but at the same time 

 the citrate-insoluble also decreased. The solubility of phosphorus in 0.2 hydro- 

 chloric acid increased, and the organic phosphorus was greatly decreased during 

 fermentation. The three treated manures evolved large amounts of hydrogen 

 sulphid. The largest amount was evolved from manure to which sulphur 

 was added. The manure treated with flowers of sulphur produced water- 

 soluble sulphates equivalent to 23.4 gm. of sulphuric acid, as compared with a 

 loss of about 4 gm. from the untreated sample during fermentation. The 

 acidity of water extracts of untreated and sulphur-treated manure was the same 

 at the beginning of the experiment, but during fermentation the sulphur-treated 

 manure increased in acidity while the untreated sample became alkaline. 



Sulphur, calcium sulphate, and acid phosphate were very effective in pre- 

 venting loss of nitrogen from urine. The untreated urine lost 80 per cent 

 of its total nitrogen. Treatment with sulphur reduced the loss of nitrogen to 

 10 per cent and prevented formation of ammonium salts. The calcium-sulphate- 



