22 EXPERIMENT STATION BECORD. 



richer in ptiosphorus. Tlie most significant facts revealed . . . are the lack of 

 limestone and the low phosphorus content of the common upland types, which 

 cover nearly 90 per cent of the entire county." 



The reclamation of an unproductive soil of the Kankakee marsh region. 

 Soil acidity, nitrification, and the toxicity of soluble salts of aluminum, 

 J. B. Abbott, S. D. Conner, and H. R. Smalley (Indiana Sta. Bui. 170, popular 

 ed., pp. 2-8, figs. 3).— This is a popular edition of Bulletin 170 (E. S. R., 30, 

 p. 51S). 



Soils, J. C. Brunnich (Ann. Rpt. Dept. Agr. and Stock [Queensland], 1913-U, 

 pp. 63, 68-85). — Chemical and mechanical analyses of a large number of samples 

 of soils from ten different districts of Queensland are reported. Many of the 

 samples were tested for sulphur, and it was found " that the amount of total 

 sulphur in a soil amounts on an average to about 0.08 per cent calculated as 

 sulphur trioxid (SOs), that the majority of samples do not vary greatly from 

 this average figure, and that there seems to be ample sulphur in most of [the] 

 soils to supply the requirements of crops for many years." It is stated that the 

 grass soils analyzed as a rule showed high fertility. 



Chemical studies of soils, S. Tijmstra {Meded. Deli Proefstat. Medan, 8 

 (1914), No. 8, pp. 2-'i'i-265). — Studies of the chemical composition and physical 

 properties of the soils of eight plats lying adjacent in two rows but subjected 

 to different cultural treatment showed that the plats varied decidedly in both 

 physical and chemical properties in spite of their apparent uniformity. These 

 variations are not attributed altogether to the differences in cultivation, but are 

 thought to be due largely to previously existing conditions in the soil. The 

 plowing under of the ashes of burnt weeds on two plats which, had not been 

 previously cultivated was accompanied by a decrease in the content and solubil- 

 ity of phosphoric acid, a decrease in magnesium and iron, and an apparent 

 increase in potash and chlorin. 



It is thought that such variations should be given special consideration in 

 judging the fertilizer and cultural requirements of a particular soil. The 

 average of analyses of samples from different plats may not be a safe guide for 

 such judgment. 



Further studies along this line are in progress. 



The sphere of adsorption phenomena in the soil, A. N. Sokolovskii (Zhur. 

 Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 15 {1914), No. 2, pp. 67-117, figs. 3; 

 ais. in ZentU. Agr. Chem., 44 {1915), No. 1, pp. 10-13). — Studies of adsoi-ption 

 phenomena in the different layers of chernozem and podzol soils, with partic- 

 ular reference to their nature and the factors conditioning them, are reported. 

 The adsorptive power for bases was found, with one or two exceptions, to 

 bear a close relation to hygroscopicity, and the activity of both factors decreased 

 at higher tempex-atures. With reference to hygroscopicity, it is pointed out that 

 water content, excluding the influence of salts, is a function of the so-called 

 specific surface of the soil and increases with it. Absorption appeared to bear 

 no relation to the amount of zeolitic constituents or the amount of silt present. 

 It was found that the amount of ammonia absorbed from ammonium chlorid 

 varied with the soil layers according to the quantity of displaced bases. Ad- 

 sorption with exchange of bases occurred to a rather low limit beyond which 

 the exchange of bases ceased. The absorption of ammonia varied with the 

 amount of dry residue obtained by displacing the soil solution with 96 per 

 cent alcohol. 



It is pointed out that the soil components which determine absolution are 

 characterized by a great specific surface and a susceptibility to thermal and 

 chemical influences, and the absorption phenomena beyond a certain limit are 



