328 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



During the first year the loss of sulphur was very much heavier from the 

 tanks containing only surface soil than from the tanks which contained subsoil 

 also. As a rule the same held for the second year except where the oxid and 

 precipitated carbonate of magnesium were applied. The averages of the total 

 amounts of SO. leached from all the tanks receiving the several carbonates 

 were 472 lbs. and 221 lbs. per acre, respectively, for the years 1914-15 and 

 1915-16, in the case of the tanks having no subsoil, as compared with 31.1 lbs. 

 and 114.8 lbs. per acre, respectively, for the identically treated tanks during 

 the same two years where the surface soil was underlaid with 1 ft. of clay sub- 

 soil. Analyses of the leachings established the fact that the downward move- 

 ment of sulphur and that of magnesium were parallel. 



The 8-ton applications of burnt lime slightly depressed the amounts of sul- 

 phur coming through in the leachings, as compared with the other and equiva- 

 lent treatments, while the 32-ton and 100-ton treatments practically inhibited 

 the outward movement of sulphur in solution. No such retardation in the sul- 

 phate leachings was demonstrated by the precipitated carbonate or by the nat- 

 ural carbonate of lime, even in the case of the 100-ton equivalent applications. 

 During the second year, when the 32-ton treatment of lime had become in large 

 part carbonated, the increase in the sulphates leached was over sixfold. The 

 effect of oxid of magnesium was the reverse of that produced by burnt lime. 

 All of the natural carbonates in the several amounts appeared to bring about 

 conditions which caused an augmented outgo of SOs when compared with sub- 

 soil tanks which received no carbonate treatment. 



See a previous note related to the subject (E. S. II., 31, p. 815). 



Accessory factors for plant growth, O. Rosenheim {Biochem. Jour., 11 

 (1917), No. 1, pp. 7-10, pi. 1). — Experiments with water extract of bacterized 

 peat are reported. The results are taken to indicate that the action of the 

 extracts on plant growth demonstrated the presence of substances similar to 

 the vitamins in their general behavior. 



Analysis of fertilizers for 1917, B. E. Cueby and T. O. Smith {New 

 Hampshire Sta. Bui. 185 (1917), pp. ii).— This bulletin reports the guaranteed 

 and actual analyses of 165 official samples of commercial fertilizers and fer- 

 tilizing materials collected and analyzed in 1917. 



Commercial fertilizers in 1916-17, G. S. Feaps {Texas Sta. Bui. 217 {1917), 

 pp. 26). — This bulletin reports the guaranteed and actual analyses of commer- 

 cial fertilizers and fertilizing materials for tlue season of 1916-17, together with 

 a list of the brands registered for sale during the season. 



It is stated that the results of numerous chemical analyses, pot tests, and 

 field experiments on Texas soils make it " evident that Texas farmers can well 

 afford to eliminate potash from general fertilizers, especially for cotton and 

 corn. ... In the majority of cases potash is not needed, being supplied by 

 the soil in sufficient quantity. . . . Texas soils can get on much better 

 without any addition of potash than without phosphoric acid or nitrogen. . . . 

 The present prices of potash are much too high to warrant its use as a fer- 

 tilizer." 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



The methods and value of cytology, A. Gulllieemond {Rev. G4n. Sci., 28 

 {1917), Nos. 6, pp. 166-174, figs. 7; 7, pp. 20S-216, figs. 9).— A discussion is 

 given of the various fixation methods and of their values, which are compared 

 respectively with the methods of study of the living cell and with the particu- 

 lar or relative values of such studies. Some of the author's investigations on 

 the relation between the appearance and activities of mitochondria and their 



