EDITORIAL. 1011 



in the .soil, wo iniulU ])r()iiu)tc the formation of zeolitic substanceis, 

 which are vahiahle for roa.sons of the same character as are the double 

 humates." A number of American investigators, notably llilj^ard 

 and Snyder, are workiiij^- in this direction, and have shown the impor- 

 tant relation which the zeolitic substances and humates bear to soil 

 fertilit3^ 



As Mr. Farrer remarks, the great need is for methods of investiga- 

 tion. " We nuist make the best use we can of our knowledge of prin- 

 ciples for planning our experiments, and, when they fail, for finding 

 out the causes of our failures, which we nuist go on eliminating until 

 we have succeeded." The ditiiculties of the work should inspire 

 rather than deter the investigator, and the possibilities for the exer- 

 cise of originality and for s(>curing results of the highest importance 

 should attract a considerable number of investigators to take up the 

 work systematically. 



To a certain extent we are in a transition stage as regards soil and 

 fertilizer investigations. "We long since abandoned the theory of re- 

 turning to the soil all of the fertilizing ingredients which the crop 

 takes from it. We are rel^'ing upon the soil to furnish a certain 

 amount of these substances in availaljle form year by year, and are 

 searching for a means of determining approximatel}^ how much of 

 these available substances may be expected from a given soil, as a basis 

 for the intelligent application of fertilizers. We know that the soil is 

 of most complicated constitution; that its composition is constantly 

 changing, mainly in the vegetable matter, as are also its physical con- 

 ditions, particularly temperature and moisture, and that in conse- 

 quence chemical changes of a complicated and obscure (character are 

 continually taking place in the fertile soil, through which small quan- 

 tities of assimilable plant food are released from unavailable forms. 



Considering these facts in connection with what is already known of 

 the life of the soil, it would seem that studies of these biological and 

 chemical agencies, and the conditions of culture and soil management 

 favorable to their action or control, should at least form a prominent 

 part in the stud}" of problems of soil fertility. 



The successful opening of the Graduate School of Agriculture at 

 Columbus, Ohio, on July 7 is encouraging and inspiring to those who 

 have been instrumental in arranging for it, and to the instructors who 

 take part in it as well. The national character of the school was 

 shown by the presence at the inaugural exercises of the Secretar\' of 

 Agriculture, the president of the Association of American Agricul- 

 tural Colleges and Experiment Stations, and a niem])er of the execu- 

 tive committee of that association who has long been associated with 

 agricultural education, as well as by the attendance of students from 

 25 ditfcrent States, representing every section of the country. 



