1918] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 417 



Meteorological review, C. Flammaeion {Ann. Astron. et M6t. [Paris], 5Ji 

 (1918), pp. 299-SJiS, figs. 16). — The conditions of atmospheric pressure, tem- 

 perature of the air and soil, rainfall, cloudiness, etc., with special reference 

 to the region of Juvisy and the environs of Paris are summarized. The article 

 also contains special notes on the unusually severe winter of 1916-17, extreme 

 variations of temperature in 191G iind 1917, the clear night of December 23, 

 1916, remarkable solar halos, and a marine tornado. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Movement of soluble salts through soils, M. M. McCool and L. C. Wheeting 

 {U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 11 (1917), No. 11, pp. 531-547, figs. 5).— 

 Results are reported of laboratory studies at the Micliigan Experiment Station 

 of the translocation of certain salts (including sodium eWorld, potassium 

 chlorid, and sodium carbonate) when added in varying amounts to soils of 

 different texture (heavy and light silt loam, and medium and fine quartz sand) 

 and moisture contents, as well as of changes induced in the composition of 

 the soil solution. The experiments were made in sealed and unsealed con- 

 tainers, maintained in both a horizontal and upright position, known amounts 

 of the different salts being introduced into the center of the soil mass. A 

 study of changes in the concentration of the soil solutions was made by deter- 

 minations of freezing-point lowerings at various distances from the salt layer 

 and at different intervals of time. In addition, chemical studies were made 

 of the soil solutions obtained by extracting one part of the different layers 

 of soil with one of distilled water, passing the extract through Chamberland 

 filters and determining the amount of certain bases (iron and aluminum, 

 calcium, and magnesium) found therein. Tlie data are presented in tabular 

 form and the results illustrated by graphs. 



The authors conclude that the data presented show that soluble salts are 

 translocated from regions of high to those of lower concentration in moist 

 soils when inclosed in sealed containers ; and in case of silt loam in the open 

 containers upward movement is very rapid and the downward translocation is 

 marked, the water movement evidently decreasing the downward transloca- 

 tion. ... In case of the potassium chlorid, the lack of movement reported 

 may have been and probably was due to the retention of the potassium by the 

 soil, other bases being forced into the solution. . . . Such movements are to 

 be expected, especially if the moisture coats the soil particles in the form of 

 films, in view of the fact that diffusion of salts takes place in solution, but on 

 the other hand the movement may not be and probably is not due wholly to 

 diffusion. It does not seem untenable to assume that the i-eactions which take 

 place when salts are added to the soil play their role. A given base coming 

 in contact with a particle or a group of particles may be held and others 

 liberated, adjacent particles may not be satisfied, so far as one or more of 

 these bases are concerned, and by removing them from solution may aid in 

 the translocation of soluble material in the soil. 



" The chemical studies show that the addition of soluble salts to a given 

 region of the soil results in changes of the composition of the soil solution 

 which may not be confined to the soil mass receiving the application, ft seems 

 that such conditions are of far-reaching impoi'tance in connection with the 

 results obtained from the use of soluble-fertilizer salts, as well as attempts 

 to bring about a so-called balanced soil solution. Inasmuch as soils un- 

 doubtedly vary with respect to the action that takes place when they are 

 treated with various soluble substances, it does not seem possible to work out a 

 balanced soil solution by studying a few soils." 



