PEETILIZERS. 395 



1S94, No. 23, ])p. 190, 191). — It is claimed that by using saprol as a disinfecting agent 

 in closets and sinks coutainiuation of the water supply from these will be quickly 

 detected by the characteristic taste of saprol, which is noticeable in a solution of I 

 part of saprol to 2,000,000 of water. 



A ne"w apparatus for taking samples of "water from different depths for bac- 

 teriological examination, C. Goxcalves (Centhl, Jiakt. mid Par., 16, p. 257; ahs. in 

 Chem. Cenihl., 1894, II, No. 16, p. 698). 



Exhaustion and restoration of soil fertility, W. L. Hutchinson (Mississippi Sta. 

 Bui. ?9, pp. in~lG). — The amnnnts and value of the nitrogeu, potash, and phosi)horic 

 acid removed from the soil by 14 of the more common Southern farm crops are 

 tabulated and discussed, aud means of conserving and restoring fertility by pre- 

 venting surface washing and leaching, by the use of fertilizers and soil improvers, 

 such as lime and gyjisum, by promoting nitrification, and by rotation of crops are 

 described. 



Brief notes on the physical and chemical properties of soils, R. VVauington 

 {London: Chapman i)'- llaU). 



The amount and role of lime in arable soil, A. Berxaud {Rev. Jgric, 8 (1894), 

 No. 7, pp. 154-160; No. 9, pp. 199-206). 



Influence of irrigation on the fertility of soils, F. L. Watrous (Amer. Agr., 

 middle cd., 1894, Oci. IJ, p. 186). 



Recent experiments in soil inoculation (Landw. Centhl. Posen, 1894, No. 40; 

 IVochcnschr. pom. UUn. (ivs., 24 (1894), No. 20, pp. 273,274). 



Analyses of Canadian soils, F. T. Shutt (Canada Exptl. Farms Bpt. 1893, pp. 129- 

 135). — The factors upon which soil fertility depends and the essential fertilizing 

 element of soils and fertilizers are briefly discussed, and analyses and descriptions 

 are given of 16 samples of soil from different i>arts of the Dominion of C!anada. 



On the composition of the fen soils of South Lincolnshire, R. H. Wilson 

 (Cliem. Neics, 7ti (1894), No. 1818, pp. 153, 154). 



The soils of Norway, A. Helland (Bui. 9 Geolog. Survey of Norway. Christiania: 

 1893, pp. VIII-\-464). — This contains an P^nglish summary of the contents. 



FERTILIZERS. 



Fertilizers and their use, S. M. Tracy {Mississippi Sta. Bui. 29, pp. 

 17-32). — This is a review based upon the results of 6 years' experiment- 

 ing under the supervision of the station on ''the 4 soils most common 

 in the State: The sandy clay region of the northwest, the black prairie 

 of the northeast, the yellow-cliiy loam of the central region, and the 

 sandy pine-woods soil of the southern part of the State." The topics 

 discussed are (1) the general principles of fertilizing 5 (2) the value, 

 management, and use of barnyard manure; (3) composts; (4) cotton 

 seed as a fertilizer; (5) green manuring; (0) marl; and (7) commercial 

 fertilizers. 



The conclusions reached are in brief as follows : Restoration of worn 

 soils must be gradual, and should be brought about principally by 

 green manuring, supplemented by the use of a comparatively small 

 amount of commercial fertilizers. Lespedeza, top-dressed with cotton- 

 seed meal and turned under at the end of the second year, is best 

 adapted to the restoration of very poor clay soils. To more fertile soils 

 cowpeas, fertilized with cotton-seed meal, acid pliosphate, or gyjisum, 

 are better suited. The cowpea is also the crop best adapted to the 



