FIELD CROPS. 445 



samples of vegetable soils, resembling in their chemical analysis the 

 soils of the previous experiment. The results did not show nearly so 

 high a percentage of nitrogen in the crop as in the previous year, and 

 did not verify the effects of* the phosphatic fertilizers. 



In 1890 the experiments were again repeated with the soils used in 

 1805, but without any other application of fertilizer. In this experiment 

 the pots contained nearly twice the amount of soil used in the previous 

 experiments, but with no increase in the surface area. The results indi- 

 cate in general that phosphatic fertilizers tend to diminish the nitrogen 

 content of the crop. '• This diminution in the percentage of nitrogen 

 appears to have resulted chiefly from the increase in the crop and not 

 to any deleterious influence in the phosphatic fertilizer/' 



A comparison of oats grown on ordinary soils from G different States 

 (Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of 

 Columbia) and those grown on Florida vegetable soils under like condi- 

 tions was made in 1895 and 189G. The average nitrogen content in the 

 straw and grain of 14 samples grown on common soils was 1.13 per cent 

 in 1895 and 1.04 per cent in 12-sainples in 189G, while the 14 samples 

 grown on the Florida soils in 1895 showed an average nitrogen content 

 of 1.30 per cent, and the 12 samples grown in 1896 1.4:2 per cent. 



" When it is remembered that these vegetalde soils are extremely rich in nitrogen, 

 . . . and when it is further considered that they are quite deficient in nitrifying 

 ferments, it is fair to conclude that :it least a portion of this excess of nitrogen 

 which they contain is assimilated directly from the \ egetahle mold without previous 

 oxidation to nitric acid.'' 



The author made a comparison of the relative percentage of amid and 

 proteid nitrogen in the crops grown on ordinary soils and those grown 

 on Florida soils, and found the content of the amid nitrogen in the crops 

 from the vegetable soils to be abnormally high, and the content of pro- 

 teid nitrogen fairly comparable with the content of the proteid nitrogen 

 in the crops from the miscellaneous soils. From the data obtained the 

 author infers that the increase of total nitrogen content of oats grown 

 in the vegetable soils rich in nitrogen is chiefly due to the content of 

 nonproteid nitrogen. 



Among others the following conclusions are given: Oats grown upon 

 humus soils contain about 25 per cent more nitrogen than those which 

 are grown on ordinary agricultural soils. Fertilization of humus soils, 

 such as were used in these experiments with potash and nitrogenous 

 fertilizers, did not have any appreciable effect upon the quantity of the 

 crop. 



The climatic and cultural conditions of Sweden (Dent, landw. Pressc, 34 {1897), 

 No. 68, p. 613). — Some facts concerning the climate of Sweden and notes on the 

 culture of wheat, oats, barley, sugar beets, legumes, and grasses. 



Sowing on light soils, Tancke (Fiihlini/'s landw. Ztg., 46 (1897), No. 18, pp. 535- 

 538. — A discussion ou the preparation of a seed bed ou light soils. 



Progress of the several experimental farms in 1896, W. M. Hays, T. A. Hovru- 

 stadt, W. W. Pendergast, and A. Boss (Minnesota Sta.Bpt. 1896, pp. 305-341). —A 

 reprint of Bulletin 50 of the station (E. S. R., 9, p. 131). 



