mini SOILS — PEETIU2EBS. 515 



642). it includes a continuation of the tables for a further decade and Un- 

 necessary alterations In the text. The deductions drawn In the first edition 

 have remained essentially the same. Two new chapters have been added, one 

 by A. I>. Hall, on the secondary effects of manures on the soil, comprising an 

 account of Investigations made by the author at Rothamsted, and the other 

 by E. # .I. Russell, ou the biochemical processes in the soil, containing a summary 

 of investigations made during the past 10 years. 



Woburn pot-culture experiments, 1917, J. A. Yoki.ckkic (Jour. Boy. Ayr. 

 Boo. England, 78 {MID, pp. SS2S4S, pis. 6; Woburn Expt 8ta. Bpt., iun, 

 pp. 14-25, pis. 6). — This describes "the continuation of work previously noted 

 (B. S. K., 39, p. 11G). 



Additions of 0.1 and 0.2 per cent barium as sulphate, carbonate, hydrate, and 

 nitrate, and of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 per cent as chlorid were made to a light, 

 sandy loam soil sown to wheat. Even In the higher amounts the sulphate, car- 

 bonate, and hydrate are said to have produced no bad effects, but appeared to 

 be slightly stimulating. Barium nitrate proved injurious at the 0.1 per cent 

 rate of application and at the 0.2 per cent rate destroyed the crop altogether. 

 The chlorid appeared to be harmless if used at a rate not exceeding 0.05 per 

 cent barium, but was decidedly toxic in greater amounts. 



Further observations on the relative Influence of caustic lime and carbonate 

 of lime on an acid soil are said to confirm previous conclusions that calcium 

 oxid was superior to calcium carbonate, and that an application of 3 tons of 

 calcium oxid per acre or the equivalent of 4 tons of calcium oxid as the car- 

 bonate will give the best results. 



Although failing to show any effect the first year applications of 10 cwt. 

 (0.5 ton) feldspar per acre, both with and without salt and lime, resulted In 

 increased yields of clover the second year after application, amounting to from 

 2(5.6 per cent of the untreated check for feldspar alone to 36.5 per cent for 

 feldspar and lime (5 cwt.). An application of potassium sulphate containing 

 an amount of potash equivalent to that found in the feldspar was followed by an 

 increase of 37.4 per cent. Somewhat similar experiments with mustard and bar- 

 ley failed to show any beneficial effect from the use of feldspar the first year. 



Contiuuing observations on the relative value of ordinary nitrolim, granular 

 nltrolim having 70 per cent of its nitrogen as dicyandiamid, and dicyandiamid 

 alone, applications were made to barley and mustard both at the time of seed- 

 ing and as a top-dressing. In every case ordinary nitrolim appeared to be 

 superior to the granular form, while dicyandiamid was decidedly injurious to 

 barley and still more so to mustard. 



Niter-cake applied to barley at rates varying from 5 cwt. to 2 tons per acre 

 is said to have produced no injurious effects. Superphosphate prepared from 

 niter-cake gave practically the same results with both barley and peas as an 

 equivalent amount of ordinary superphosphate. 



Cooperative fertilizer experiments with cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, and 

 Irish potatoes, 1908-1917, G. S. Fkaps (Texas St a. liul. 2S5 (1918), pp. 125).— 

 Supplementing work previously noted (E. S. R., 35, p. 531), this bulletin con- 

 tains a report of the experiments up to 191 S. when the work was temporarily 

 discontinued. In all 151 experiments with cotton. 153 with corn. 54 with Irish 

 potatoes, 23 with sweet potatoes, and 8 miscellaneous tests are briefly discussed, 

 and tabulated data presented showing the yields of the different crops for the 

 various fertilizer treatments. Analyses are also given of a number of surface 

 soils and subsoils on which the tests were made. The conclusions reached may 

 be summarized as follows: 



Acid phosphate produced a gain in 75 per cent of the cotton experiments, 

 cottonseed meal in 68 per cent, and potash In 53 per cent. Where gains occurred 



