SOILS FERTILIZERS. 623 



line condition. The results show that the yields were greatly increased by 

 this treatment and indicate that the method is sound in principle. The author 

 suggests the feasibility of applying Schouherr's process for the electrical pro- 

 duction of nitric acid (E. S. R., 22, p. 127) for 'supplying the nitric acid 

 required, the hydraulic power of the artesian flow being used to generate the 

 electrical energy necessary and the nitric acid being mixed with the artesian 

 water as it flows on the land. 



"There should be no great technical difficulty in applying this method of 

 producing nitric acid to our alkaline artesian waters, which are in an ideal 

 condition to absorb the gases. The waters contain the necessary carbonate of 

 soda free of cost ; the water is hot, which would assist the chemical change, and 

 the costly process of concentration is quite unnecessary, as the nitrate could 

 flow out with the water on the land." 



Injurious substances in the soil, F. B. Guthrie (Agi\ Gas. N. S. Wales, 21 

 (1910), No. 5, pp. 434-Ul). — Among the causes of infertility discussed in this 

 article are sourness, presence of protoxid of iron and pyrites, alkalinity, excess 

 of salt, manganese, magnesia, and toxic substances secreted by plants, excessive 

 concentration of soil-water, calcium chlorid, alum, deficiency of essential ele- 

 ments of plant food, and presence of organisms which destroy nitrogen-forming 

 bacteria. 



Sterilization of soils, W. Laidlaw and C. A. Price {Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 

 8 {1910), No. 6, pp. 365-368, figs. 2).— The work of other investigators on this 

 subject is briefly reviewed, and theories as to the cause of increased productive- 

 ness following sterilization are discussed. An effective plant for the steriliza- 

 tion of soil for the purpose of securing a pure seed bed is described. 



Concerning the action of pyrog'allol on unproductive soil, H. J. Wheeler, 

 B. L. Hartwell, and F. R. Pember {Proc. Soc. Prom. Agr. Set., 30 {1909), 

 pp. IfS-SJf). — In the field and pot experiments upon an infertile Rhode Island 

 soil here reported, it was found that the pyrogallol as used in experiments by 

 Whitney and Cameron (E. S. R., 16, p. 650), produced little or no effect. 



" Lime, as in previous experiments on soil in this and other sections of the 

 State, was found to be a splendid soil ameliorant, yet neither lime nor pyro- 

 gallol, nor even the two combined, was capable of rendering the economical 

 production of barley possible unless supplemented by chemical fertilizers con- 

 taining one or more of the usual so-called essential elements. 



" Pyrogallol and sumac leaves, both immediately and subsequently, failed to 

 accomplish the results produced by a mixture of nitrate of soda, muriate of 

 potash, acid phosphate and lime. 



" These results and those secured in earlier experiments with similar soil 

 at the Rhode Island Station throw additional doubt upon the wisdom of 

 reasoning from the growth of seedling plants in solutions or from those grown 

 by the paraffined wire-basket method, as to what will take place in a given 

 soil under usual cultural conditions, and show that where possible all specula- 

 tions and theories should be subjected to the actual test of the field." 



Lime and legume inoculation, K. F. Kellerman and T. R. Robinson 

 {Science, n. ser., 32 {IVIO), No. 813, pp. 159, 160).— In experiments in which 

 magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate were applied in quantities varying 

 from 0.25 to 2 per cent to a sandy loam soil containing a rather high percentage 

 of magnesia it was found that the addition of magnesium carbonate in amounts 

 exceeding 0.25 per cent was positively inhibitive to nitrifying action, while the 

 calcium carbonate was favorable up to 2 per cent. These results indicate that 

 the lime-magnesia ratio " apparently exerts an effect upon nitrifying bacteria 

 analogous to its effect upon some of the higher plants," 

 03100°— No. 7—10 3 



