428 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



been set free. It was further observed that calcium nitrate was more resistant to the 

 <lenitrifying process than potassium and sodium nitrates. 



Comparative experiments on the denitrifying organisms of manure, straw, 

 soil, etc., C. HoFMCH {t'ejdbl. Bali. «. Par., 2. Ahi., S {190£), Xox. 8, pp. 245-248; 

 3, pp. 273-278; 10, pp. 305-308; 11, pp. 336-339; 12, i)p. 361-367; 13, pp. 398-406).— 

 Culture studies are reported, from which the more important conclusions are that 

 liorse manure always contains denitrifying organisms and cow manure generally con- 

 tains them, the organisms being the same in each manure; the same organisms are 

 found very abundantly in straw; the soil always contains denitrifying organisms of 

 the same kind as are found in manure. 



On denitrification, H. Weissexberg {Cetithl. Bakf. v. Far., 2. Aht., 8 {1902), No. 

 6, pp. 166-170). — A study of the denitrifying action of Bacterium pyocyanetim in cul- 

 ture media under various conditions. 



Soil bacteria and the nitrogen question, A. Koch {Chem. Ztg., 26 {1902), No. 

 SO, p. 945). — A brief discussion of some of the principal results of recent investiga- 

 tions on this subject. 



On the presence of lime as dolomite in certain cultivated soils, T. L. Phip- 

 soN {Client. Neirs, 86 {1902), No. 2234, p- 148). — Analyses of a numljer of soils from 

 Argentina are reported which show the presence of about an ecpial proportion of cal- 

 cium and magnesium, namely, 1 per cent. 



Glacial formations and drainage features of the Erie and Ohio basins, 

 F. Leverett ( V. 8. Geol. Survey Monograpln^, 41 {1902) , pp. 802, ph. 26, figs. 6").— The 

 feature of this exhaustive report of special agricultural interest is the chapter on 

 soils, which discusses the sources of the soil material and classifies and describes the 

 typical soils of the region. These include residuary soils, stony-clay soils, gravelly 

 or ston»y soils, sandy snils, silty soils, and peaty or organic soils. 



The geology of Louisiana, G. D. H.\rris, A. C. Veatch, and J. A. A. Pacheco 

 {Louisiana Stas. Spec Rpt. Geol. and Agr., jjf. 6, j^p. TT-f 288, jjh- 44, figs. 27). — This 

 is a collection of special papers based on the work of 3 field seasons, 1900-1902, con- 

 tinuing that of previous years (E. S. R., 12, p. 221). The subjects reported on are the 

 tertiary geology of the Mississippi enibayment, the salines of North Louisiana, the 

 geography and geology of the Sabine River, notes on the geology along the Ouachita, 

 improvements in Louisiana cartography, the subterranean waters of Louisiana, the 

 tides in the Rigolets (by R. A. Harris), and oil in Louisiana. The reports on sub- 

 terranean waters and on oil are of special interest at this time, the first because of 

 the growth of the rice industry and the consequent increased demand for water for 

 irrigation. The work reported is almost exclusively stratigraphic in character, 

 ■observations on topography, drainage, soils, etc., not being attempted on account of 

 limited funds. 



Science in agriculture { Fannenf Gaz., 61 {1902), Nos. 1, p. 5; 2, pp. 20, 21). — 

 A brief review of the work done in different countries in studying and mapping soils. 



FERTILIZERS. 



The value of barnyard manure, C E. Thorxe and J. F. Hickman {Ohio Sta. 

 Bui. 134, pj>- 89-101). — The results of tests, on the plan de-scribed in a previous bul- 

 letin (E. S. R., 12, p. 127), of open yard and stall manure on rotations of corn, oats, 

 wheat, and mixed clover and timothy, and on corn, oats, and wheat grown contin- 

 uously, are reported. The yard manure "is taken from flat, open yards, where it 

 has accumulated for several months during the fall and winter, and has been sub- 

 jected to the conditions which affect the ordinary open-yard manure of the average 

 Ohio farm, conditions which involve very considerable losses. For both corn and 

 wheat the manure is applied to the surface as a top-dressing. It is put on with the 



