1917] SOILS — FERTILIZEES. 811 



45). — This is an address delivered January 27, 1917, which was illustrated by 

 means of lantern slides and samples of peat material, and is apparently 

 intended to give the results of a reconnoissance of the peat lands of Massa- 

 chusetts. It is concluded that the inequality in the character of the peat 

 lands encountered and in the strata of their materials renders a more detailed 

 study advantageous in their agricultural utilization. 



" Information concerning the seasonal variations in the water table, the 

 nature of the salt constituents, and the circumstances in the field conditions 

 which lead to the augmentation or diminution of soluble constituents is of prime 

 importance, the effect of any accumulation of iron compounds especially requiring 

 attention in certain cases. The relation of cropping system to the several kinds 

 of peat lauds if ignored would be to the disadvantage of the real agricultural 

 value of certain peat lands. Field trials are the more correct means under the 

 existing conditions on the peat lands to determine the choice of crop varieties, 

 seeding mixtures, etc., and the cultural practices to be follow^ed." 



The oxidizing' power of some soils in Deli, J. A. Honing {Bui. Deli Proef- 

 stat. Medan, No. 8 {1911), pp. 8). — Tests of the Gerretsen method of determining 

 the oxidizing power of soils (E. S. R., 35, p. 624) on the dry soils of Deli proved 

 it to be impracticable and to give contradictory results on these soils. Fre- 

 quently the hydrogen iodid value was high for samples taken at 1 or 2 ft. depth 

 and low for surface soils having a high percentage of humus. The failure of 

 the method on the nonirrigated soils of Deli is attributed to the presence of 

 large quantities of humus and the irregular distribution of the ferric iron. 



Variation in the chemical composition of soils, W. O. Robinson, L. A. 

 Steinkoenig, and W. H. Fey {U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 551 {1917), pp. 16).— This 

 bulletin presents complete analyses of 45 samples of soil, representing 18 dis- 

 tinct soil types distributed in four provinces. These, with the analy.ses of 24 

 samples previously noted (E. S. R., 31, p. 719), are discussed with reference to 

 variation of all samples, variation in composition within a soil province, varia- 

 tion of the same type, and the bearing of the limit of error in analysis on the 

 interpretation of analytical data. 



" It is thought that the analyses discussed represent nearly the extremes in 

 composition of soils in the regions in which the samples were taken. Marked 

 resemblances in composition of soils from the same province are pointed out. 

 It is shown that some samples of the same type differ considerably in chemical 

 composition. It is also shown that some soils of different types may resemble 

 each other in chemical composition as closely as different samples of the same 

 type. It is pointed out that the unavoidable error in analytical operations is 

 in many cases of such magnitude that when analyses are stated in pounds per 

 acre differences of several hundred pounds of some constituents are not 

 significant." 



A soil sampler for bacteriological and chemical purposes, J. R. Nelleb 

 {Soil Sci., 4 {1917), No. 2, pp. 109-113, figs. 3).— A soil sampler, devised at the 

 New Jersey Experiment Stations, is described and diagrammatically illustrated. 



The sampling tube is 3^ ft. long and has an inside diameter of IJ in. It is 

 divided into two parts, a and b. Piece a is 11 in. long and has a point made so 

 that the core slides easily up through the tube. The inner shoulder above the 

 cutting edge is about J in. wide. Piece a is attached to piece & by means of a 

 bayonet, or groove and key joint, made so that it clo.ses and tightens when the 

 upper part of the tube is turned to the right. A slight twist to the left enables 

 one to detach the lower piece and remove the core of soil. The shoulders of 



