1916] SOILS — FERTILIZEES. 119 



of analyses of soils from farms in central Peru, are reported, which show 

 that while the total phosphoric acid content is higher in the soil than in the 

 subsoil, the ratio of water- and citrate-soluble phosphoric acid to total phos- 

 phoric acid is very nearly the same for both soil and subsoil. In most cases 

 about from 39 to 53 per cent of the total phosphoric acid of the soil was 

 water- or citrate-soluble. 



Soil investigations on the red beech, litter experimental plats in the forest 

 district of Philippsburg, K. Ganteb [Forstw. Genthl., n. ser., 37 (1915), Nos. 

 7, pp. 812-335; 8-9, pp. 392-407, pis. 3; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Romel, Mo. 

 Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 6 {1915), No. 12, pp. 1578, i 579).— Investi- 

 gations on the physical and chemical properties of the soils of plats receiving 

 the leaves and litter of beeches for a number of years are reported. Some 

 of the plats were raided over annually, some once in five years, and some were 

 left unraked. The unraked soil consisted of a layer of leaves and mold 

 from 5 to 7 cm. (1.97 to 2.8 in.) thick, underlaid by 10 cm. of humus sand, 

 and 70 cm. of gray sand. The soils raked every five years had a leaf and mold 

 covering from 2 to 3 cm. thick, while the layer of humus sand was from 5 

 to 7 cm. in thickness. 



It was found that the unraked soils showed the greatest total water content 

 and the least evaporation, while the soils raked annually showed a medium 

 water content and a high evaporation. Soils raked every five years had the 

 smallest moisture content and an evaporation about equal to that of the un- 

 raked soils. The soils raked annually showed the greatest content and the 

 soils raked every five years the smallest content of matter which could be 

 washed out with water. The unraked soils were about equal in this respect 

 to the soils raked every five years. These two types also showed the greatest 

 porosity. The annually raked soils showed the highest, the soils raked every 

 five years a medium, and the unraked soils the lowest, temperature. The un- 

 raked soils showed the greatest humus and nitrogen content and the great- 

 est average increase in tree growth, followed in order by the soils raked every 

 five years and the annually raked soils. 



Contribution to the study of the soils of the east coast [of Madagascar], 

 G. Cable and Gohier (Bui. Econ. Gouvt. Gen. Madagascar, 15 (1915), I, No. 1, 

 pp. 35-41). — Chemical analyses of 49 samples of hill, plateau, and swamp soils 

 and subsoils from the east coast of Madagascar are reported and discussed. 



The hill soils are generally residual clays and are considered to be relatively 

 deficient in phosphoric acid and to be generally unproductive. The plateau 

 or alluvial soils are considered to be well supplied with nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid, and potash, but to be constantly deficient in lime. The swamp soils are 

 well supplied with nitrogen, but are considered to be relatively deficient in 

 phosphoric acid and lime. Proper drainage is said to be one of the most im- 

 portant factors in increasing the productiveness of the swamp soils. 



The predominating minerals in Dutch East Indian soils, E. C. J. Mohb 

 (Dept. Landb. Nijv. en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Meded. Lab. Agrogeol. en 

 Grondonderz., No. 2 (1915), pp. 11). — This is a brief classified presentation of 

 the mineralogy of these soils. 



Soils and their treatment, W. J. Spaffobd (Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 19 

 (1915), No. 3, pp. 267-278). — This is an address before the Nantawarra Branch 

 of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia, in which the origin, physical, 

 mechanical, and chemical properties of soils are briefly dealt with, special refer- 

 ence being made to the soils of the district. 



The decomposition of clay marl, O. Cieielli (Bol. Mvn. Agr., Indus, e Com. 

 [Rome], Ser. B, 14 (1915), I, No. 3-4, pp. 91, 92).— Tests of the effect of pro- 



