FERTILIZERS. 



31 



average quantity of hydrochloric acid sohible potasli in the surface soil of 3 potash- 

 dressed i)lats to the average quantity found in 7 plats not dressed with potash was 

 1.20 : 1. The citric acid soluble potash ratio, however, was 6.75 : 1. The plat dressed 

 with dung for 50 years and 9 years, respectively, gave, as compared with the same 7 

 nonpotash plats, hydrochloric acid soluble potash ratios of 1.27 : 1 and 1.23 : 1, while 

 the citric acid soluble potash ratios were 10.67 : 1 and 9.17 : 1." 



The results indicate that when the first 9 in. of the soil contains as much as 0.01 

 per cent of citric acid soluble potash, applications of potash fertilizers are not needed. 

 The larger part of the unused potash was accumulated in the surface soil, although 

 a considerable ])roportion was found by the citric acid method to be diffused through- 

 out the second and third 9 in. 



The valuation of arable soils on a scientific statistical basis, G. Thoms ( Zur 

 ]]\'rtlisrliatznng dt'r Ackererden anf naturwissenschaftlich-stutistischer Grundlage. Mitt. 

 III. Higa: N. Kymviel, 1900, pp. 115, map 1, charts 6). — This is a continuation of pre- 

 vious investigations (E. S. R., 8, p. 573) and reports the results of analyses of 234 

 samples of soils collected during 1893, 1894, and 1895, on 39 estates in Courland. 

 The results are charted as well as tabulated. The following table gives a summary 

 of the average results obtained: 



Average comjwsition of Courland soils of different productive capacities. 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Potash 



Nitrogen 



Magnesia 



Waterin the soil in the field 



Loss on ignition 



Absorptive capacity for am- 

 monia 



Clay 



Depth of surface soil 



Productive capacity ob- 

 served 



Priiductive capacity on ba- 

 sis of examination 



Best soil. 



Surface 

 soil 



Per ct 

 0. 1332 

 . 9973 

 . 2849 

 .1910 

 . 5318 

 13.44 

 CIO 



42. 91 

 27. 46 

 29.80 



14.83 



12.87 



Subsoil. 



Per ct. 



0. 0937 

 . 7290 

 .3638 

 .0666 

 . 6294 



9.80 



2.99 



57.23 

 31.77 



Medium soil. 



Surface 

 soil. 



Per et. 



0. 1099 



.4393 



.2437 



. 1582 



.3962 



12.69 



4.73 



37.85 

 25. 51 

 22. 76 



11.64 



12.02 



Subsoil, 



Per ct 

 0. 0743 

 .5585 

 .3308 

 .0551 

 .6164 

 8.01 

 2.68 



50.05 



27. 98 



Poorest soil. 



Surface 

 soil. 



Per ct. 



0. 1011 



.3401 



.1785 



. 2012 



.2814 



12.80 



6.04 



36.61 

 18.06 

 17.33 



7.49 



10.90 



Subsoil. 



Per ct. 



0. 0652 

 .4918 

 .2500 

 .0477 

 .4030 



8.73 



2.32 



38.96 

 18.96 



Average of surface and 

 subsoil. 



Best. 



Per ct. 



0. 1134 



. 8031 



. 3243 



.1291 



.5806 



11. 62 



4.54 



60.07 

 29.61 



Me- 

 dium. 



Per ct. 



0. 0921 



.4989 



. 2872 



.1066 



.5063 



10.35 



3.70 



43.95 

 26.74 



Poor- 

 est. 



Per ct. 



0. 0831 



.4169 



.2142 



.1244 



.3422 



10.76 



4.18 



37.78 

 18.61 



The results show a direct relation between the productive capacity of the soil and 

 its content of plant food as shown by analysis. This is especially true as regards the 

 phosphoric acid, but is also shown in the case of potash, lime, magnesia, and nitrogen 

 (in subsoil). 



Waters for table use sold in bottles or jugs, H. E. Smith {Connecticut State Sta. 

 Rpt. 1900, pt. 2, j)p- 201-215) . — Analyses of a number of samples. 



FERTILIZERS. 



Swamp muck, H. A. Huston and A. H. Bryan {Indiana Sta. HjH. 1900, pp. 73- 

 75). — The nuu-k beds which are found in different parts of Indiana, in areas vary- 

 ing from a fraction of an acre to over 5,000 acres, are briefly described and their value 

 as manure is discussed, the nitrogen in 6 samples of water-free muck being reported. 

 The nitrogen varied from 2.75 per cent to 4.14 per cent. For purposes of comparison, 

 2 samples of muck and 1 of pure peat moss in an advanced state of decay, secured in 

 Elaine, were also analyzed. The nitrogen in water-free material in these samples 

 was 1.75 and 1.83 per cent in case of the muck, and 0.67 per cent in the peat moss. 

 Suggestions regarding the conqjo^ting of the muck are made. 



