18 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOBD. [Vol.37 



marked for fungi than for bacteria. Air -drying had very little effect on the 

 ammonlficatlon of dried blood and cottonseed meal, but caused a pronounced 

 diminution In ammonia production from peptone in solution. Nitrogen-fixation 

 results were very little affected." 



Six references to literature bearing on the subject are appended. 



A method for determining the volume weight of soils in field condition, 

 C. F. Shaw {Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 9 {1917), No. 1, pp. S8-42). — The paraffin 

 immersion method used by Brown et al. in previous work (E. S. R.. 25, p. 820) 

 If: described. 



Soil valuation and soil investigation, T. Remy {Landw. Jahrb., 49 {1916), 

 No. 1, pp. 147-158). — This Is a general discussion of important factors in soil 

 Investigation and valuation. 



The capacity of the soil to absorb and hold water, A. Rindell {Om Jorden* 

 Formdga ait Upptaga och Kvarhdlla ^'atf^n. Ilelsingfors: Kejserliga Smntvng 

 Tryckcri, 1915, pp. S-), figa. S). — This paper deals with the absorptive powers of 

 different soils for water, with special reference to the transportation of nutri- 

 tive substances in solution by water. 



Dynamics of soluble phosphoric acid in the soil {Otchet Bc:enchuk. Seltk. 

 Khoz. Opytn. Sta., 5 {1914 >. pp. 89-700).— Investigations on the solubility of the 

 phosphoric acid in different fallow soils at different times of the year are 

 reported. 



The results are taken to Indicate that the amount of phosphoric acid extracted 

 from the wjil by water, weak acid, or weak alkali does not Indicate the amount 

 of soil phosphoric add soluble In these substances, but rather Indicates the 

 dls.solvlng p<->wer of the soil solution for soil phosphoric acid. Soil extracts 

 obtained from different parts of the same field showed about the same dissolving 

 powers for soil phosphates. It Is concluded that the process of mobilization of 

 pho.sphorlc acid In soil is Insignificant It Is thought further that the Impor- 

 tance of any particular method of culture as influencing the condition of soil 

 phosphoric acid can n<it be determined on the basis of present data. 



The alkaline reaction produced by acids in soils in relation to plant nutri- 

 tion. — II, Solubility of manganese compounds in the soil, G. Masoni {Staz. 

 Sper. Agr. Itnl., 49 {1916), Ao. 2, pp. 1S2-149: obs. in Intermit. Intt. Agr. 

 [Rome], Intemat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 {1916), No. 6, pp. 799, 800; Jour. 

 Soc. Chcm. Indus., S5 {1916), No. 23, pp. 1227, 122S; Chem. Ab»., 11 {1917), No. 

 2, p. 181). — Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 34, p. 720). experiments are 

 reported on the action of tenth-normal solutions of hydrochloric, nitric, sul- 

 phuric, phosphoric, formic, acetic, oxalic, succinic, malic, tartaric, and citric 

 acids on manganese compounds (1) lu common soils, (2) In mixtures of pure 

 calcium carbonate with nianganous oild, maugano-manpanic oxld, manganese 

 dloxld, manganese carbonate, and manganese sulphate, and (3) In a mixture of 

 eommon soils with manganese sulphate or dloxld. From 2.' to .50 gm. of the 

 earth or mixture used were treated with 50 to 100 cc. of the add solution, the 

 whole was thoroughly shaken, and, after the appearance of an nlkaline reaction, 

 the mixture was filtered and the filtrate tested for mniiganose. 



In the experiments with soil It was found that the so-called oxyadds alone 

 threw manganese Into solution In large amounts In spite of the alkaline reaction 

 pro(hice<l. Citric and malic adds were especially active. 



In the experiments with pure calcium carbonate and oxids of manganese 

 the ability of lime to prevent the retention of mangane*;e In solution was demon- 

 strated. The oxld of manganese behaved rather differently from the other 

 oxIds, giving a comparatively strong manganese reaction In the filtered liquid 

 even with acids other than oxyaclda. 



