418 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



and clay loams show little appreciable saving of moisture due to cultivation or 

 the application of manure under Texas conditions, there being very little more 

 percolation from cultivated and manured pots than from bai'e uncultivated pots. 

 On the other hand, the sands and sandy loam soils showed a decided gain in 

 moisture with cultivation and manuring, the increased percolation indicating 

 decreased evaporation resulting from both treatments. 



Lavas of Hawaii and their relations, W. Cross ( U. S. Oeol. Survey, Prof. 

 Papers No. 88 (1915), pp. 97, pis. 4). — This reix)rt describes and discusses the 

 petrography of Hawaii. It contains information of importance in the study of 

 lava soils, especially those of Hawaii. 



Soil investigations in the Liineburg Heath region, A. Ai^bert (Ztschr. Forst 

 u. Jagdtv., U {1912), Nos. 1, pp. 2-10, iM. 3; 3, pp. 136-153, fi'g's. 2; 6, pp. 353-364; 

 11, pp. 655-671, fig. 1; 45 (1913), No. 4, PP- 221-237, pi. 1; 46 {1914), No. 2, pp. 

 82-90). — A series of investigations of the physical, chemical, and biologtcal 

 properties of the sandy soils of the heath districts of northwest Germany, with 

 reference to the forestation of waste portions, is reported. 



These soils are of two classes, namely, the gray or bleached sands and 

 the brown sands. The bleached sands consist of a leached-out surface soil 

 and a hard impervious subsoil resembling ortstein, which is formed by the 

 leachings from the surface soil. This impervious layer varies in color from rust 

 red to brownish black, varies in depth from about 12 to 14 in. in diluvial 

 sands and from about 20 to 39 in. in alluvial sands, and frequently runs into 

 an extensive layer of bowlders. The brown sands occupy the higher elevations 

 and have a higher content of fine matter than the gray sands. The topsoil 

 does not have a leached-out appearance, the hardpan subsoil is usually absent, 

 and no sharp transitions occur between layers. The sand grains are covered 

 with a brown layer consisting of iron and humus compounds. 



Shallow cultivation, crop rotations consisting of legumes followed by rye or 

 potatoes, and artificial fertilization are suggested as being the proper treatments 

 for both of these soils before tree planting. 



The vertical soil zones in mountainous Russia, W. P. Smirnoff {Internat. 

 Mitt. Bodenk., 4 {1914), No. 4-5, pp. 405-417, fig. i).— This article discusses the 

 theory of the zonal distribution of soil types in Russia proposed by Dokouchayev 

 (B. S. R., 12, pp. 704, 807), and reports the general results of a soil survey 

 made in Turkestan and Altai in which particular attention was paid to the 

 vertical distribution of the types. It was found that the theory proposed by 

 Dokouchayev is, with slight modifications, applicable to the scheme of vertical 

 distribution in the Altai region. The opinion is expressed that the common 

 laws governing the life of a soil tyiie will hold good several thousand feet above 

 sea level and that when clearly defined for a certain region will afford a safe 

 basis for further study of soil tyiies. 



Chemical composition of the alluvial soils of the Falcat basin, Eritrea, 

 A. Maugini {Agr. Colon. [Italy], 9 {1915), No. 1, pp. 1-24, pl- i).— Studies of 

 the origin and physical and chemical proi)erties of the soils of this region are 

 reported, and the possibilities of their agricultural utilization, especially by the 

 aid of irrigation, are discussed. 



The soils are of alluvial origin, are of considerable depth, very uniform in 

 texture, and contain a high percentage of fine particles. Their physical struc- 

 ture is in most cases favorable to cultivation and their permeability varies 

 according as the sandy or clay particles predominate. In the more compact 

 soils capillary action is very intense during dry seasons. Most of the soils are 

 deficient in calcium carbonate but contain considerable organic matter and 

 phosphoric acid and potash, chiefly in insoluble condition. They are also more 

 or less highly impregnated with soluble alkali salts, of which sodium and 



