230 ' EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



made in sampler of soil ignited to bright-red heat and those not so ignited. It was 

 found that the amount of potash sohible in strong acid at steam heat was in most 

 cases more than doubled by ignition. A slightly larger percentage of potash was 

 founil in the subsoil than in the surface soil, the reverse l)eing true in case of lime. 



The soils of Dorset, D. A. Gilchrist and G. A. Luxmoore {Jour. Rending Col. 

 \_England], litOO, Snp. 10, pp. 28; 1902, Aug., pp. 34). — Reports are here given of 

 results of examinations of the second and third installments of 20 samples each of 

 Dorset soils investigated under the terms of an agreement explained in an earlier 

 report (E. S. R., 11, p. 327). The reports give the results of laboratory examina- 

 tions and field observations. 



Gooselands of Glenn and Colusa counties, R. H. Loughridge, T. L. Knock, 

 and J. B. Davy {California ,Sta. Ejd. 1899-1001, pf. 1, pp. 21-3S).—A brief account is 

 given of mechanical and chemical examinations, and studies of alkali conditions, 

 physical characteristics, and distinctive flora of these lands, which derive their name 

 from the fact that they are the resort of large flocks of wild geese which are attracted 

 by the accumulation of water on the surface of the soils during the winter rains. 

 The soils cover a large area in the counties of Glenn and Colusa, bordered l)y the 

 alluvial belt of the Sacramento River on the east and the valley plain of the Sacra- 

 mento Valley on the west, and reach from AVillows on the north to within a few 

 miles of Arbuckle on the southeast. The region varies in width from about 15 miles 

 in its widest place on the north to about 6 miles on the south. It has a length of 

 about 30 miles. The accumulation of water is due to an impervious subsoil, and the 

 soil is strongly impregnated with alkali, the predonnnant ingredient of which is 

 sodium sulphate. The alkali is believed to be derived mainly from the alkali waters 

 and sediments of Willows Creek, which emi^tiesinto this area. A combined system 

 of warping and drainage is suggested as a possible means of correcting the present 

 unsatisfactory condition of these lands. " The most abundant and distinctly char- 

 acteristic plants of the gooselands proper are, in order of prevalence: Alkali heath 

 {Frankenia grandifolia), gum weed {Grindelia camponim), salt grass {Disiichlis 

 spicata), gold fields (a species of Bxria or Ladhenia, especially prevalent on adobe 

 patches), cressa {Cressa articn truxillenm), sida {Sida, hederacea), long-winged pepper 

 cress {Lepidium latipes), tissa {Tissa leucantha), and prostrate saltbush {Atriple.r 

 friilirulot^a)." 



Study of the climate and soil of the Polder region of Belgium {ifunograpkic 

 agricole de la region den Poldera. Brussels: Ministry of Agricidhire, 1902, jip. 1-14).— 

 The subject is treated in the same manner as in previous reports of this series on 

 other regions (E. S. R., 13, p. 723). The soils of the region are compact, tenacious, 

 and of marine or fluvio-marine origin. They contain from 20 to 30 per cent of clay. 

 In-A^irgin state they are rich in fertilizing constituents, ))ut have in many cases become 

 impoverished by continuous cropping without manure, especially as regards nitrogen 

 and jthosphoric acid. 



An investigation of soil sediments, as formed under arid conditions, with 

 regard to their plant-food value, L. ]\1. Tolmax {Cdifornia Sl<i. Ujit. 1899-1901, 

 pt. 1, x>P- 33-42). — Chemical analyses of the different sediments obtained in mechan- 

 ical analyses of a number of California soils are reported and compared with similar 

 analyses of sediments obtained in analyses by Loughridge of soils from humid regions. 

 The results indicate that the clay of arid soils is not so important a factor in plant 

 nourishment as that of humid soils and that there is a rather general distribution of 

 plant food through all the sediments, the plant food being in about the same condi- 

 tion in all of them. 



A contribution to the action of fertilizer salts on the physical properties 

 of soils, A. MiTSCHEKLUii ( Fidiling's Lnndw. Ztg., nl {1902), No. 16, pp. 580-588).— 

 The mcist marked effect of the use of salts on soils is to cause them to become more 

 compact; the influence on moisture content is thought to be of no great importance. 



