1918] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 119 



did calcium carbonate. The additlou of large amounts of manure to the soil 

 caused an increase in the total nitrogen after a period of about four mouths. It 

 is suggested that this accumulation of nitrogen was caused by increased azofica- 

 tion due to easily available energy material added with the manure." 



The nitrification of pyridin, quinolin. guanidin carbonate, etc., in soils, 

 M. .J. FuNCHESS {Alabama Col. Sta. Bui. 196 (1917), pp. 65-82).— Continuing 

 work previously noted (E. S. R., 36, p. 212), experiments are reported on the 

 nitrification of pyridin, quinolin, guanidin, carbonate, etc., in acid soils and acid 

 sandy loams and to determine the effect of lime thereon. 



It was found that " with the exception of naphthylamin, each of the com- 

 pounds used was nitrified in soil. At the concentration used, naphthylamin 

 inhibited nitrification in both limed and unlimed soil. Quinolin was nitrified 

 most readily in soil having the highest lime requirement. Lime retarded or even 

 inhibited nitrification of quinolin. Lime practically inhibited nitrification of 

 guanidin carbonate. Nitrification of dried blood, piperidin, nucleic acid, al- 

 loxan, and asparagin was greatly increased by lime. 



" Heavy applications of certain nitrogenous compounds may retard nitrifi- 

 cation. Liming a soil which had been partially sterilized with carbon disulphid 

 greatly increased its power of nitrification. A still further increase was ob- 

 tained by reinoculation of the soil after partial sterilization. 



" Vanillin proved to be nontoxic toward nitrification of piperidin, moder- 

 ately toxic toward nitrification of dried blood and pyridin, and inhibitory 

 toward nitrification of quinolin. Iiime countei-acted the toxicity of vanillin to 

 a very large degree. 



"The effect of coumarin on nitrification was quite variable. In some in- 

 stances it exerted an inhibitory eft'ect ; in others none. In most cases where 

 coumarin exerted an inhibitory effect, lime greatly reduced the amount of 

 inhibition. 



" Pyrogallol retarded nitrification of all compounds except quinolin and 

 piperidin in one soil. Lime reduced the injurious effect of pyrogallol in all 

 cases except in the quinolin-treated soil. 



" Salicylic aldehyde completely inhibited nitrification of all compounds except 

 piperidin in one soil. 



"Carbon black apparently overcomes a part of the bad effect of certain non- 

 nitrogenous compounds on the process of nitrification." 



The maintenance of soil fertility, C. E. Thorne (Agr. of Mass., 1916, pt. 2, 

 pp. S3-48; Mass. Bd. Agr. Circ. 65 {1911), pp. 15). — General principles for the 

 maintenance of soil fertility are outlined as the results of experience at the 

 Ohio Experiment Station. 



Fertilizers as an aid to profitable farming, G. C. Abnott {London: Mc- 

 Glashan, Gregory & Co. [i9i7], pp. IS). — This is essentially a war-time publica- 

 tion apparently designed to give practical information as to the most efficient 

 utilization of the available supplies of natural and artificial fertilizers for 

 different crops under English conditions. Part I deals with plant food ele- 

 ments, their function and effects, and Part II deals with the value of experi- 

 ments as indicating the profit resulting from the judicious use of suitable 

 fertilizers. 



Fertilizing California soils for the 1918 crop, C. B. Lipman {California Sta. 

 Circ. no {1917), pp. 8). — This circular contains information and suggestions 

 regarding proper systems of fertilization to be followed on California soils to 

 meet war-time conditions. It is pointed out that the arid soils of California 

 are particularly deficient in nitrogen and organic matter. 



" In the soils of the San Joaquin Valley and in those of the southern valleys 

 of California, including the southern coast valleys, the southern portion of the 



