FERTILIZERS. 



623 



water-holding power of the soils by incorporating: an abnndanee of 

 organic manures in them; (3) leaving the ground uneven after seed- 

 ing; (4) clearing the wooded lands in north and south belts; and (5) 

 planting wind-breaks. 



Evaporation of water under the influence of potash salts, M. 

 JMakckek {Ncue ZtscJir. Rilbt-nz. Tnd., 33, p. SIJ; abs. in CItcm. CcittbL, 

 65 {1894), II, No. 13, p. 595). — Experiments in vegetation pots with 

 potash salts ou soils rich in potash showed that the beneficial effect of 

 these fertilizers on such a soil was without doubt largely due to the 

 conservation of moisture in the soil. This action declined after a time, 

 but was revived by renewed applications of potash salts. It was 

 observed that the effect on evaporation was not confined to the soil, 

 but was exerted on the plants as well. The latter became richer in 

 salts and therefore less subject to loss of moisture by transpiratiou. 



Analyses of typical soils of the Island of Jersey, F. W. Toms 

 {Ami. Rpt. Official Analyst of Island of Jersey for the year end'uuj March 

 25, 1892, pp. 10-12). — Complete chemical analyses of 5 soils are reported. 

 The results of analyses of 3 of these selected as typical of the light, 

 medium, and heavy soils of the island (unmanured) are given in the 

 following table : 



Composition {of dry matter) of typical Jersey soils. 



Light. 



Medium. 



Heavy. 



Volatile and organic matter . . . 



Oxid of iron ^ 



Alumina 



Lime 



Magnesia 



Potash 



Soda 



Phosphoric acid 



Sulphuric acid 



Oh lorin 



Carbonic acid 



Soluble silica 



Hydrated silica 



Insoluble silicates and quartz . 



3.590 

 0.910 

 0.572 

 0.236 

 0.148 

 0.086 

 0.228 

 0.128 

 0.182 

 0.009 



Trace. 

 0.079 

 2.500 



91. 332 



100. COO 



3.760 

 1.724 

 1.497 

 0.187 

 0.291 

 0.114 

 0. 355 

 0.131 

 0.230 

 0.011 



Trace. 

 0.080 

 2.780 



88. 834 



100.000 



Nitrogen in organic matter 



Nitrogen as nitrates (parts per million). 



0.122 

 2.108 



0.136 

 1.650 



3.980 

 2.245 

 1.403 

 0.576 

 0.200 

 0. 158 

 0.537 

 0. 195 

 0.184 

 0.009 



Trace. 

 0.084 

 6.100 



84. 329 



100. 000 



0.141 

 6.450 



Muck and marl, R. C. Kkdzie {Micltiyan Sta. Bui. 115, pp. 35-40). — A brief poj)- 

 iilar treatise on tlie character, iiiauagement, and utilization of the muck and marl 

 depo.sit.s of Michigan. 



Soil temperature.s (.//(/(. (Jhnerv. Astron. Nac. Tacnhaya, lS95,p. 290). — A 2 yeara' 

 record of soil temperatures is given for the Tacnbaya Observatory (Mexico), De- 

 cember, 1891, to November, 1893, witli thermometers at depths of 3, 1.15, 0.70, 0.38, 

 and 0.28 meters. — o. L. fassig. 



FEETILIZERS. 



The fertilizing value of different kinds of ground Thomas slag, 

 crude phosphates, and the phosphoric acid of bone meal, M. 

 Marcker {Jahresber. ayr. Chem. Vers. Stat. Halle, 1893; Neue Ztschr. 

 RUbenz. Ind.^ 33, pp. 81-84; abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1894, II, JS/^o. 13, 



