118 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



Its nature varied with the source, but it Is apparently related to the nucleinic 

 acids. Tlie 3 per cent hydrochloric acid extract contained the element in both 

 inorganic and organic forms and during its evaporation a considerable amount 

 of the latter was converted into the former." 



The phosphate depletion of the soils of Bihar: Its effect on the quality and 

 yield of crops and the contingent risks of malnutrition and endemic disease 

 in cattle and man, W. A. Davis {Agr. Jour. India, Indian ScL Cong. No., 1917, 

 pp. 77-89). — Evidence is given of a deficiency of phosphorus in Bihar soils, and 

 the relation of this deficiency to malnutrition of cattle, low milk yield, and 

 nervous diseases of horses is discussed. 



[Experiments on alkali soil], D. Hansen {V. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant 

 Indus., Work Huntley Expt. Farm, 1916, pp. 24, 25). — The results of attempts 

 to reduce the excessive amount of salts in a tract of land on the Huntley recla- 

 mation project and to grow crops on the soil are briefly described. The land 

 was seriously affected by seepage due to a rapid rise of the ground water 

 under this area in 1914 and 1915. As a result the amount of alkali salts has 

 increased in the first 4 ft. of soil since 1913. The construction of a drain in 

 1915 relieved the condition, the ground water being lowered to a depth below 

 5 ft. 



Alfalfa planted for seed on the soil in 1916 yielded a small amount of hay 

 but practically no seed. Sweet clover made a heavy growth and yielded seed 

 at the rate of 4. .53 bu. per acre in 1916. From i-esults secured in 1915 and 1916 

 " it appears to be one of the best crops for this heavy land, both as a seed crop 

 and for hay and pasture." 



The importance of mold action in soils, P. E. Brown {Science, n. ser., 4S 

 {1917), No. 1182, pp. 171-175). — This paper calls attention briefly to the varied 

 action of molds in soils, and presents a compilation of various published data 

 and some of the unpublished results of experiments on the subject conducted 

 at the Iowa Experiment Station with the idea of emphasizing the need of 

 further study of these organisms. 



It is thought that fungi occur actively in soils and that their action must be 

 important regardless of their relative numbers compared with bacteria. " It 

 seems evident that mold action in soils may be of far greater significance than 

 has previously been supposed in preparing available food for plant growth. . . . 

 If soil bacteriology is to be developed to the proper extent in the future and 

 the relation of microorganisms to soil fertility is to be established witii any 

 degree of certainty, investigations mu.st include not only bacterial action, but 

 the activities of molds and possibly also the growth of protozoa and algre." 



Carbon dioxid production in soils and carbon and nitrogen changes in 

 soils variously treated, R. S. Pottkk and R. S. Snyder {loiva Sta. Research 

 Bui. 39 {1916), pp. 253-309, pi. 1, figs. 21). — Following a review of the literature, 

 experiments are reported in which it was found that calcium carbonate in the 

 course of 124 days increased both the total amount of carbon dioxid evolved 

 from soil and the amount given off by the organic matter in tbe soil. The same 

 was true for the soils receiving applications of 10, 20, 30, and 50 tons of manure 

 per acre. Less calcium carbonate was decomposed from the soils receiving 

 manure than from the unmanured. The greater the application of manure the 

 less was the decomposition of the carbonate. The ammonia evolved from the 

 soil under the conditions of the experiment was negligible. 



" It is believed that the conditions of this experiment approximate field con- 

 ditions closely enough to venture the statement that under normal conditions 

 there is no danger of the loss of nitrogen from the field by volatilization of 

 ammonia. Thei'e was quite an accumulation of nitrates In the manured soils. 

 Magnesium carbonate caused a somewhat greater accumulation of nitrates than 



