24 LXPKRIMEXT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



The destruction of vanillin in the soil by the action of soil bacteria. \V. J. 

 Robbins and A. E. Elizando (Alabama Col. Sta. Bui. 20k (1918), pp. 185-181).— 

 In connection with earlier investigations (E. S. R., 38, p. 129), further evidence 

 Is presented to show that vanillin-destroying bacteria occur in those soils to 

 which the addition of vanillin was observed to have little bad effect on the growth 

 of plants. In the case of a quartz sand, no organism destroying vanillin could 

 be demonstrated, while in soil obtained from the Arlington (Va. ) Farm the 

 vanillin was found to persist in a toxic state, even though vanillin-destroying 

 bacteria were present In the soil. Assuming that conditions in this soil were 

 not suitable for the growth and action of the vanillin-destroying organisms, a 

 study was made of the effect of the addition of vanillin to Arlington Boll upon 

 the number of microorganisms developing in it. 



Soil treated with vanillin and with vanillin and vanillin-destroying bacteria 

 showed 0.96 and 0.32 million microorganisms per gram of air-dry soil, respec- 

 tively, 57 days after treatment, while untreated Boll showed 2.66 million. Un- 

 treated Alabama soil showed 3.7G million, and Alabama soil treated with va- 

 nillin showed 18.12 million for the same length of time. Vanillin was observed 

 In crystals on the surface of the Arlington soil more than 4<t days after treatment. 



Soil extracts of Alabama and Arlington soils to which vanillin was added 

 failed to show any difference In the rate of vanillin destruction by a pure 

 culture of the vanillin-destroying bacterium. 



The acidity of the Arlington soil, represented by a lime requirement of 4,740 

 lbs. per acre, Is not thought to be responsible for this condition, due to the 

 fact that in an Alabama acid sandy loam soil having a lime requirement of 

 3,400 lbs. per acre, vanillin has been entirely destroyed In le<s than 87 days. 



Evidence has been obtained which Is held to indicate that poor aeration may 

 be responsible for the persistence of vanillin in the Arlington soil, although 

 no definite conclusion I iod. 



The influence of potsherds on nitrification in the Indian alluvium, Jatinmka 

 Nath sin {Jour. Vgr. Boi [England], 9 {1918), Wo. l. pp. ().— The 



author describes pot ami lysimeter experiments in which a study was made 

 of the effecl upon nitrification of aeration produced by the addition of dif- 

 ferent quantities of potsherds to the fine-textured Pass soil, small, roundish 

 pieces of hrhk from } to i in. in diameter were added In amounts repre- 

 senting 0, 10, 20, and BO per Cent Of the BOll, and the percolate from the | 

 and soil samples from the lysimeters examined for nitrates. Increased nitri- 

 fication followed the use of postherds In both experiments, the 80 per i enl appli- 

 cation generally giving the highest results. 



The use of green manures. BCHKOAtn and L. BKtnatnkBM (Cam pi. Rend. 

 Aca<i. Agr. France, 4 (1918), Wo. tO, pp. 864-357, Si'< bos. In Interna*. Tnet. 



Apr. [Rome], hit. runt. Rev. Boi. and Praet. Apr., 8 [1918), Wo. 6. pp. M7, 668; 

 Jour. Bd. Apr. [London], 2~> {1918), Wo. 7. p. 864).— In experiments at Grlgnon 

 during 1918 to 1916, oats after trefoil produced 8.95 cwt of grain per acre, 

 after clover fc27, vetches 4.:;l\ and white mustard 0.42 cwt. <;,.,>.l results 

 were obtained by sowing the legumes with the een als. By this means it was 

 possible to grow successfully three successive CrODS of ■• without other 



nitrogenous fertilizer. The use of crimson Clover, fenugreek, and white mell 

 for this purpose is also suggested. 



The farmer and the dung heap {J OUT. Ed. Agr. [London], 85 {1918) Wo. 6. 

 pp. 705, 708). Brief directions for caring for the manure heap are given. 



Fertilizers after the war. EL J. BUSSBLL {Woture [London], 10% {1918), So. 

 25J f 9, pp. S, 8). — Beferring to previous reports and estimates relating to the 



postwar USB Of fertilizers in (Jreat Britain, the author submits an estimate 

 based on a total cultivated urea of 46,700,000 acres, 22.000,000 of which nr, 



