WATEE SOILS. 645 



S. R., 10, p. 235), is illuHtratt'd in a series of charts Avliicli are briefly explained. 

 These show " the gradual amehoration of the worst spots by ciiUivation and the use 

 of gypsum," also tlie rise of alkali after several wet seasons or as a result of irrigation 

 on surrounding farms. Gypsum lias ])een used at the rate of about 7.7 tons per acre 

 annually on these soils for 1.') years. "In the four years since 1897 the vineyard of 

 6 acres has received 34,000 IIjs. of gypsum, or 17 tons, which is equal to 4^ tons per 

 year. This is a profitable use of gypsum, as the crops have been large and the vines 

 have been kept healthy, for which an annual (>xpenditure of less than $4 per acre is 

 little to pay." 



Alkali and alkali land, R. H. Locghkidgk {(Jalifornui Sin. Rpt. 18UU-1001, pt. 2, 

 2>p. 190-204). — Analyses of water from sulphur and hot springs of the Elsinore Val- 

 ley; determinations of alkali at different depths in lands bordering Elsinore Lake, 

 and at Tulare and Southern California substations; and results of examinations with 

 refereni'e to alkali in miscellaneous samples of soil from various localities in the State 

 are reported, with brief discussions of the results. 



Irrigation, cultivation, and hardpan, E. W. Hiloard {California ,Sla. Rpl. 

 1899-1901, pt. '2, pp. 149-153). — A brief discussion of the formation of plowsole or 

 hardpan in humid regions, and in arid regions under irrigation, and its injurious 

 effect on the growth of jilants. 



Fixation of phosphoric acid in the soil, J. T. Crawley {Jour. Amer. Chem. 

 Soc, 24 {1902), No. 11, pp. 1114-1119).— Th\s question was studied on 2 different 

 kinds of soil in boxes 9 in. square and 9 in. deep. The results show "that when the 

 application of the fertilizer [superphosphate] is followed immediately by irrigation 

 (1) more than one-half the phosphoric acid remains in the first inch of soil, more 

 than nine-tenths in 3 in., and practically the whole within 6 in. of the surface; (2) 

 when an interval of 15 hours intervenes between the application and the irrigation, 

 more than nine-tenths of the phosphoric acid is retained by the first inch of soil and 

 practically the whole by the first 3 in." 



In further tests of the total capacity of the soil to fix phosphoric acid "800 gm. of 

 red soil and 50 gm. of double superphosphate containing 20.58 gm. water-soluble 

 phosphoric acid were thoroughly mixed together. This mixture was kept moist to 

 promote the chemical action, and samjiles were withdrawn from time to time to esti- 

 mate the water-soluble acid." The mixture was made March 26. March 27, 41.6 

 per cent of phosphoric acid had become fixed; IMarch 29, 57. 7 per cent; April 3, 73 per 

 cent; and April 17, 85.65 per cent. Or, taking 3,500 lbs. as the weight of 1 acre of 

 soil to the depth of 1 ft., it was found that this soil absorbed, after 1 day, 35,235 lbs. 

 phosphoric acid per acre to the depth of 1 ft.; after 3 days, 48,872 lbs.; after 8 days, 

 61,431 lbs.; and after 22 days, 72,545 lbs. 



This high absorptive power for phosphoric acid is attributed to the extremely basic 

 character of the Hawaiian soils. 



On the fixation of ammonia and potash by Hawaiian soils, J. T. Crawley 

 and R. A. Duncan {Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 25 {1903), No. 1, pp. 47-50).— In the 

 investigations here reported the same methods were followed as in the studies on 

 fixation of phosphoric acid noted above. When irrigation followed the application 

 of ammonium sulphate one-half of the ammonia was "retained in the first inch, more 

 than four-fifths within the first 2 in., and almost all within 4 in. of soil. . . . The 

 anunonia was held rather firmly, but subsequent irrigations washed it out in 

 decreasing quantities." Under like conditions " seven-tenths of the potash applied 

 [as sulphate] was retained in the first inch, more than four-fifths in 2 in., and almost 

 all within 6 in. of the soil. . . . As in the case of ammonia, the potash was held rather 

 firmly, but irrigations gradually washed it away, 8 irrigations having washed 19 per 

 cent out of 6 in. of soil." 



Predominating' processes of soil formation, P. Slyezkin {Khozyaene, 1902, pp. 

 901-908, 921-930; rev. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Jour. Expt. Landw.}, 3 {1902), No. 4, 



