220 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol.35 



Twenty questions on lime, F. E. Beab (West Virginm Col. Agr. Ext. Dept. 

 Circ. Jfl {1915), pp. 16, figs. 7).— This is a brief popular summary of results 

 obtained at different state experiment stations on the purchase, preparation, 

 and use of different forms of lime in agriculture. 



Sulphur in relation to soils and crops, J. W. Ames and G. E. Boltz (Ohio 

 Sta. Bui. 292 {1916), pp. 221-256) .—This bulletin deals with the sulphur supply 

 of soils, reporting analyses of typical Ohio soils, and reports field experiments 

 at the different experimental farms of the Ohio Station to determine the im- 

 portance of sulphur as a factor in crop production. 



It was found that " soils well supplied with organic matter contain more sul- 

 phur than soils containing a smaller amount of organic residues. Sulphur is 

 similar to phosphorus in that larger amounts of both these elements are dis- 

 tributed in the surface soil than in the lower strata. 



"Treatment with fertilizer materials supplying sulphates increased the sul- 

 phur content of the soil over that found in unfertilized soil. Soil treated with 

 acid phosphate and ammonium sulphate contained more sulphur than soil 

 receiving acid phosphate alone. Cultivation of silt loam soil for 16 years 

 without the addition of fertilizers decreased the total sulphur supply. 



" Water extract of soils obtained by leaching 200 gm. of soil with 2,000 cc. 

 of water shows that there is a considerable accumulation of sulphates in silt 

 loam soil deficient in organic matter. Treatment with acid phosphate has 

 not increased the sulphate content over that found in unfertilized soil. Ammo- 

 nium sulphate used in combination with acid phosphate decidedly increased the 

 accumulation of sulphates. ... A much less proportion of the total sulphur 

 is found in the water extract of soils containing more organic matter and total 

 sulphur. The amount of soluble sulphur obtained in the water extract of 

 soils indicates a sufficient supply of available sulphur, assuming that sulphur 

 as sulphates is a satisfactory form of this element. 



"The 20-year average yields of the Wooster 5-year rotation fertility experi- 

 ments show that phosphorus carriers (acid phosphate and dissolved bone 

 black) containing sulphates, compared with bone meal and basic slag, pro- 

 duced more corn, oats, and wheat. Bone meal and basic slag increased the 

 yields of clover and timothy. . . . 



"Acid phosphate, compared with bone meal and basic slag in a 3-year rota- 

 tion of potatoes, wheat, and clover has given larger yields of potatoes and 

 wheat. In the 5-year rotation experiment conducted for 19 years on Strongs- 

 ville clay, containing more sulphur than the Wooster silt loam, acid phosphate, 

 compared with bone meal and basic slag, has given larger yields of corn, oats, 

 and timothy. The yields obtained .show that bone meal and basic slag are more 

 effective than the dissolved boneblack used on this soil. The 3-year rotation 

 fertility plats on Miami clay loam, which have had sulphur supplied by both 

 acid phosphate and potassium sulphate, have produced less tobacco, wheat, and 

 clover than plats to which muriate of potash and acid phosphate were 

 added. . . . 



" Under certain conditions of treatment, sulphates have increased the yield 

 of soy-bean hay and the sulphur content of the crop. The addition of calcium 

 sulphate to fertilizer treatment furnishing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium 

 decreased the sulphur content of soy beans. Potassium sulphate and ammonium 

 sulphate, compared with potassium chlorid and sodium nitrate, gave an increased 

 yield of beans having a lower percentage of sulphur. Sulphates used with com- 

 plete fertilizer and calcium carbonate decreased the yields of millet hay and 

 millet seed. Sidpliates considerably increased the accumulation of sulphur in 

 millet hay and in soy-bean hay and decreased the content in the seed. No 

 inorganic sulphur was found in soy beans and millet seed. Calcium sulphate in 



