WATER SOILS. 233 



"it is hoped that before another crop is planted a part of the field may 

 be examined more in detail so ;is to enable us to map the strata in 

 sections showing their undulations." 



An account is also given of observations by the method of Hilgard 

 and Loughridge 1 on the capillary rise of water in columns of common 

 mulatto sandy soil, black adobe, and "gopher clay," the last of these 

 containing particles "so fine that they appeared as mere specks when 

 examined with a microscope which magnifies 340 diameters." Tabular 

 data show that at the end of 00 days the water had risen 0.'5 in. in the 

 gopher clay, 4.'> in. in the mulatto soil, and o7j in. in the adobe, and 

 was still rising. 



Subsoiling, X. E. Hansen (South Dakota Sta. Bui. 54, /)/>.:' i). — The 

 experiences with subsoiling at several experiment stations in the North- 

 west and on a number of farms in South Dakota, Nebraska; and 

 Minnesota are given. The subsoiling experiments being conducted at 

 the station are as yet inconclusive. , 



Wheat and oats on subsoiled plats showed a greater resistance to 

 hot winds, but lodged more readily in hot, sultry weather than the 

 grain ou uusubsoiled plats. In a potato and a corn experiment, the 

 increase of yield of subsoiled plats over uusubsoiled plats was 25 per 

 cent and 11 per cent, respectively. The rainfall during the season was 

 adequate and none of the plats suffered greatly from drought, so that 

 the exact benefits from subsoiling could not be determined. 



An experiment with tomatoes was conducted as a variety test of 

 early varieties ami as a subsoiling test. In cases out of 22, the 

 tomatoes on subsoiled land were later than those on surface plowed 

 land. In cases they were earlier and in 7 eases no difference was 

 perceptible. In L5 cases the yield was in favor of subsoiling, while in 

 the other 7 the crop was larger from the uusubsoiled plats. Early Ruby 

 was the most productive, both on subsoiled and unsubsoiled land. As 

 other very early varieties. Earliest of All, Hubbard Early, and Bond 

 Early Minnesota are mentioned. 



The results of experiments with beans, rutabagas, carrots, and cab- 

 bages are given. The author suggests that further experiments are 

 needed to determine the effects of subsoiliug. 



Water analyses, A. A. Persons ( Florida Sta. Rpt. 1896, pp. 68-74). — Analyses with 

 reference to sanitary condition are yiven of 15 samples of water, with directions for 

 the interpretation of tbe results of analyses, and some suggestions regarding the 

 locating of a well. 



The fertility of soil in general and of Russian soils in particular, S. Boooanoy 

 {Selsk. Khoz. Lyesov., 183 (1S96), pp. 1073-1184). 



A treatise on rocks, rock-weathering, and soils. <;. I'. Merrill (New Yuri-. The 

 Macmillan Co. London: Hacmillan $ Co. Ltd., 1897, XX, 411 pp., 25 ph., 42 fi<js.).— 

 "In the work here presented the writer has endeavored to bring together in system- 

 atic form the results of several years' study of the phenomena attendant upon 

 rock degeneration and soil formation. Although beginning with a discussion of 



1 California Sta. Rpt. 1893-'94, p. 70 (E. S. R., 6, 790). 



