WATEE SOILS. 723 



WATER SOILS. 



Analyses of the waters of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, (t. o'Utra {Bol. 

 Aijr. Sao Pdiilo, J. so:, 1901, Xn. ,v, pp. /fSl-.iSS). —Analyscti witli reference to potability 

 of a naml)er of naniples from different parts of the state are reported. 



Investigations on drainage water, Creydt, von Seelhorst, and Wilms (Jovr. 

 Landw., 4^ (1901), No. S, pp. 251-^'75).—\ daily record of the flow of drains from 

 July 28, 1899, to August 10, 1900, and weekly analyses of the drainage water are 

 reported, with a description of the methods of analysis used and a discussion of the 

 results. The analyses indicate that the loss of nitrogen fn)m soils in the drainage 

 even in case of heavy soils may be appreciable, while the loss of potash and of i)hos- 

 phoric acid is insignificant. 



Pollution of streams by agriculture and manufactures, G. V. Kiilopin 

 {Zazrtfaznenie protochnuikh vod khoz yaisfvennuimi i fabrichnuimi at brosami i myarui k 

 ego ttstranenhju. St. Petersburg: K. L. Ricker, 1901, pp. 60). 



Study of the climate and soil of the clay and sandy clay region of Belgium 

 (Monographie agrkole de hi region limoiiense et sahlo-limoneuse. Brussels: Mmhtry of 

 Agriculttire, 1901, pp. 1-71). — This article gives and discusses data for monthly, sea- 

 sonal, and annual temperatures at a number of places in the region; the temperature 

 of bare and covered soils during different months of the year; sunshine, hail, rainfall, 

 fogs, and storms; the geological characteristics of the region; physical and chemical 

 analyses and characteristics of the soils, including analyses of matter soluble in cold 

 hydrochloric acid of 1.18 sp. gr., in hydrofluoric acid, and in alkaline ammonium 

 citrate in soils and subsoils from 38 localities; estimates of the amounts of fertilizing 

 constituents per hectare; experiments with fertilizers on different classes of soil, 

 and notes on the water supply. The results of the examinations of the soils show 

 that as a rule these are somewhat deficient in phosphoric acid. The amount of 

 potash soluble in cold concentrated hydrochloric acid is generally low, although the 

 total potash as determined by treatment witli hydrofluoric acid is high. The results 

 of the fertilizer experiments indicate that the latter is to a considerable extent 

 assimilable by jilants and that potash fertilizers are not needed as a rule. The soils, 

 especially those that have been under intensive culture, are poor in nitrogen, con- 

 taining as a rule less than 0. 1 per cent of this constituent. The amounts of lime 

 and suli^hates are low, but magnesia is believed to be present in sufficient quantity. 



The climate and soil of the Jurassic region of Belgium {Monographic ogricole 

 de la region Jurassifjue. Brussels: Ministry of Aejrieulture, 1901, pp. 1-2S) .—Da.ta. are 

 given for temperature, rainfall, rainy and dry periods, snow, rainy days, and storms, 

 the geological constitution and the chemical and physical composition of the soils 

 of the region, and its hydrological conditions. The soils of this region are very 

 variable in physical character. While, as the analyses show, a few of the soils are 

 quite rich in phosphoric aci<l, the larger part of them are only moderately supplied 

 with this constituent, and are benefited by the application of phosphates. There is 

 considerable potash present, but a large part is insoluble in hydrochloric acid. As a 

 rule the application of barnyard manure suffices to supply the potash and nitrogen 

 required for medium crops. Liming is beneficial in unlocking the potash, improving 

 the physical condition of the clayey soils, and promoting nitriflcation by correcting 

 the acidity, which is often sufficient to seriously retard the action of the nitrifying 

 organisms. On account of the slow nitrification in many cases nitrate of soda has 

 been found beneficial. 



The tea soils of Assam, \\. H. M,\nn {The tea soils of Assam, and tea manuring. 

 Calcutta: Indian Tea Association, 1901, pp. 1-59, 104-137, pi. 1). — This is an account 

 of investigations conducted under the auspices of the Indian Tea Association, includ- 

 ing a report on two tours through the Assam Valley to study the causes of the decline 

 in productiveness of the tea soils of this region and the means of improving them. 



