1916] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 429 



Idaho phosphate resources, R. N. Bell (Jour. Electricity, 36 {1916), No. 13, 

 pp. 243-246). — The details of the fertilizer resources of Idaho and Montana 

 are discussed with special reference to extensive beds of what is considered 

 high-firade rock phosphate in Idaho. 



Investigation of a reported discovery of phosphate in Alberta, H. S. de 

 ScHiciD {Canada Dept. Mines, Mines Branch Bui. 12 {1916), pp. IV-\-38, pis. 

 13, flff. i),— This report deals with the geology, general characteristics, and 

 extent of a phosphate bed near Banff, Alberta. 



It was found that the deposit possesses an average thickness of about 12 

 in. and contains an average of about 43.7 per cent of tricalcium phosphate and 

 43.3 per cent of insoluble matter, chiefly silica. From the data obtained it is 

 assumed that there are 10 square miles of beds, or 26,137,600 short tons, of phos- 

 phate rock. " There are at least two outcrops of the phosphate bed that are 

 conveniently situated as regards accessibility and transportation facilities, the 

 one being about 4 miles from Banff station and the other hardly more than a 

 mile from the railroad. While unsuited to the manufacture of supei-phosphate 

 by the sulphuric-acid method, owing to the low content of tricalcic phosphate 

 . . . and to the large amount of silica present . . . the Alberta rock would 

 possibly prove suitable for treatment by one of the thermic processes that have 

 lately been proposed to .supplant the sulphuric-acid method." 



Recent progress of mineralogy in relation to soils: The investigation of 

 potash and phosphate beds, B. GtOSSner {Forstiv. Centbl., n. ser., 38 {1916), 

 Nos. 1, pp. 1-18; 2, pp. 77-84, figs. 6).— This article deals briefly with the 

 mineralogy and geology of the principal known deposits of phosphates and 

 potash salts in the world. A list of nine references to literature bearing on 

 the subject is included. 



Conservation of potassium, J. W. Ames {Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., 1 {1916), No. 

 5, pp. 155-1.58). — This article deals with the liberation of the potassium of the 

 soil by the use of fertilizers, lime, and organic matter, and reports the results 

 of analyses made at the station of crop residues and solid and liquid manure 

 with special reference to potash content. 



Lime as a soil improver, H. J. D.^nnfelt {K. Landtbr. Akad. Handl. och 

 Tidslcr., 54 {1915), No. 1, pp. y,5-57).— This is a discussion of the beneficial 

 influences of lime on the physical and chemical properties of soils, attention 

 being drawn, however, to its injurious action, in excessive amounts, on soil 

 bacteria. 



Injury to plant growth by caustic lime, Rothert {Jour. Landw., 63 {1915), 

 No. 3, pp. 227-232). — Pot experiments with barley on mild loam soil and a 

 red sand, to determine the limits within which caustic lime may be used on 

 heavy and light soils without injury to plant growth and the influence of 

 caustic lime on nitrate formation in these soils, are reported. 



Caustic lime was added to the loam soil in amounts of 0.2.5, 0.5, and 0.75 

 per cent and to sand in amounts of 0.05, 0,1, and 0,25 per cent. The growth 

 of barley plants on the loam soil was retarded from the beginning with the 

 largest lime addition, and after a short time with the medium lime addition. 

 In the sand cultures no difference in plant growth was observed in the begin- 

 ning between limed and unlimed soil. The crop yield in the loam soil was 

 greatly reduced by liming, being smaller the greater the amount of lime added, 

 but in sand was favorably influenced, this being more marked with the smaller 

 amounts of lime added. Liming increased nitrate formation in both sand and 

 loam soils, this usually being greater with the smaller lime additions. 



These results are taken to indicate that excessive liming of light sand 

 soils may be injurious owing to the increase and loss of nitrates and the 



