SOILS FERTILIZERS. 419 



magnesium chlorids predominate. Tlie deficiency in calcium carbonate and the 

 presence of quantities of soluble salts are thought to retard bacterial activities 

 in the soil, especially with reference to the transformation of organic matter. 



As regards alkalinity the soils are divided into two classes, viz., those made 

 alkaline by sea water and those characteristic of alkaline soils in arid regions. 

 The sodium chlorid content of the soils was found to vary within wide limits, 

 according to the elevation, stratification, and physical structure of the soil. 

 Near the sea the salt content increased with the depth, while the reverse was 

 true with other soils subjected to annual inundation. 



The relations between irrigation and alkali accumulation are also discussed 

 and conditions in the basin are compared with similar conditions in this and 

 other countries. It is stated that the irrigation of these alkali soils with the 

 more or less salty Falcat water presents a problem which can only be solved 

 by proper drainage and cultural treatment. 



Investigations on usar land in the United Provinces, J. W. Leather (Alla- 

 haJjad, India: Govt., 1914, pp. 88, pis. 68, fig. 1). — This report, in three parts, 

 contains the results of investigations into the characteristics of certain classes 

 of alkali land in the United Provinces in India. 



The first part deals with unproductive irrigated soils in the neighborhood of 

 Bhadan. These soils were found to contain a certain amount of sodium car- 

 bonate and bicarbonate but no other alkali salts, and are water-logged to a 

 depth of about 7 to 9 ft. The results of the investigation seem to indicate that 

 the alkali in the soil is .a product of the soil itself and is not deposited by the 

 canal water. It is thought possible to reclaim some of these lands by lowering 

 the ground-water level and maintaining about 2 ft. of water on the surface for 

 a period of six months or a year. 



The second part reports experiments on the reclamation of alkali soils. The 

 application of gypsum was the only really effective method of reclamation tested, 

 and the cost of this was prohibitive. Deep and thorough cultivation with heavy 

 manuring was unsuccessful and scraping off the salts was found to be prac- 

 tically useless. 



The third part reports comparative investigations of alkali soils under canal 

 and well irrigation. The conclusions drawn are that " in respect of frequency, 

 infertility, nature and amount of salts, or physical condition, there is substan- 

 tially no difference between the soil of the usar [alkali] patch which has been 

 under canal irrigation for many years and that which has never been subject 

 to this influence at all." 



Descriptions of the methods of investigation employed, tables of analytical 

 data, and maps and charts are appended. 



Description of the soil types within the boundaries of the " Banjoemas " 

 residency, Java, P. W. Houtman {Meded. Proefstat. Java-t^uilcerindus., 5 

 (1914), No. 2, pp. 13-28, pis. 7; Arch. Suikerindus. Nederland. Indie, 22 {1914), 

 No. 50, pp. 1791-1806, pis. 7). — This report briefly describes the geography and 

 geology of the residency, and discusses the soils mainly with reference to origin 

 and physical and chemical properties. These are divided into seven groups and 

 consist of volcanic and alluvial material, silts, and clays having textures vary- 

 ing from heavy to light, and lateric formations. 



Tables of analyses and soil maps accompany the report. 



Recent soil investigation in the Cape Province, C. F. Juritz (Agr. Jour. 

 Union So. Africa, 5 (1913), No. 6, pp. 856-870; 6 (1913), Nos. 1, pp. 38-49; 2, 

 pp. 337-345; 3, pp. 455-461; 5, pp. 785-791; 6, pp. 934-939; 7 (1914), No. 1, pp. 

 62-67). — This article reports the results of additional investigations of the soils 

 of Cape Colony (E. S. R., 20, p. 1014). Analyses of about 272 soil samples col- 



