SOILS. 31 



On the causes of injury from frosts, F. F. Bruijning and A. 

 Mayer (Forseh. Geb. <igr. Phys., 10 (1896), Wo. 4-5, pp. 185-494, pi. /).— 

 Three conditions affecting the lowering of the freezing point in plants 

 were studied, namely, the capillary structure of the vessels carrying 

 the plant sap, the effect of dissolved matter, and the influence of under- 

 cooling (UnterTcuhlung). } In the first the freezing pointof the juice of 

 yew leaves and various artificial solutions was tested in capillary tubes 

 varying in size from 8 to G4.2 square dechnillimeters. In ease of the 

 yew sap the average lowering of the freezing point due to capillarity 

 was 5.3° C. The average lowering of the freezing point due to dis- 

 solved matter was 1.3°, while that due to undercooling was 2.2°. 



Meteorology at Alnarp, Sweden, 1894-'96, M. Weibull (lidskr. Landtman, !', 

 {1896), pp. S67-870, 892-894). 



The weather in Denmark, 1895-96, V. W. Jantzen ( Tidsskr. Landokon, 

 pp. 121-140). 



Phenological observations, 1894, E. Iiim: ( />'<r. Oberhess. Ges. Nat. n. Heilk., 

 1896, Aug., pp. 76-94). 



Recent phenological literature, E. Iiim; {Ber. Oberhess. Ges. Nat. u. Heilk., 

 1896, Aug., pp. 9-~>-99). — Continued from page 1! of the thirtieth report of this society. 



Phenological observations, 1895, and other contributions to phenology, E. 

 Iiinf, (Her. Oberhess. Ges. ^'<it. u. Heilk., 1896, Aug., pp. 119-150). — This includes, 

 besides observations according to the Hoffman-Ihne plan, notes on recent phenolog- 

 ical literature and suggestions regarding phenological observations. 



Results of rain, river, and evaporation observations made in New South 

 Wales during 1895, 11. ('. Russell (Dept. Pub. Tnstr. Sidney, 1896, pp. 199, dun- 

 map 1). 



SOILS. 



The soils of the Hagerstown valley, 0. W. Dorset (Maryland 



Htn. Hal. 44, pp. ls!)-209). — The progress made in the classification and 

 study of the soils of Maryland 2 is explained and mechanical analyses 

 are given of soils and subsoils of 7 typical corn lands, 8 wheat lands, 

 and G grass lauds of the limestone area of this region, 5 samples of 

 subsoil on the Hudson Eiver shales, and 4 from the peach lands on 

 Cambrian sandstone. 



•''(1) As the soils of the State have been classified into a number of distinct types 

 differing in origin and agricultural value, there is need of detailed study upon each 

 of these types to determine the local variations which were not considered in the 

 general classification. 



"(2) In the Hagerstown valley there are 3 principal rock formations which give 

 rise to 5 distinct soil types, all differing in their relations to agriculture 



" (3) The Cambrian sandstone soils derived from the decay of the whitish Cambrian 

 sandstone are shallow, stony soils which occupy a narrow strip along the base of 

 the Blue Ridge Mountains. These soils are the center of the mountain peach indus- 

 try which has of late years come into considerable prominence. 



"(4) The Hudson River shales upon decomposition give rise to a light yellow soil 

 which, though shallow and easily washed away, is remarkaldy fertile when the 



'Cooling below the freezing point without solidification by keeping the solution 

 perfectly quiet and not introducing any foreign body to set up crystallization. 

 2 See also Maryland Sta. Bui. 21 (E. S. R., 5, p. 162). 



