SOILS PEBTULIZERS. 19 



The clay substance of the Morioka loam was composed of (1) allophane-like 

 aluminum silicate, which formed most of the argillite-like material; (2) kaolin- 

 like aluminum silicate, which formed most of the argillite mixture; and (3) 

 an anauxite-like aluminum silicate, which formed a large proportion of the 

 clay aggregate not decomposed in sulphuric acid. 



The mineralog'ical analysis of soils, W. H. Fry {Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 5 {WIS), No. 1. pp. 30-32). — A fuller discussion of this subject has been 

 noted in Bulletin 91 of the Bureau of Soils (E. S. R., 28, p. 812). 



Soil and crop and their relation to state building, A. N. Hume (South 

 Dakota Sta. Bui. 139, pp. 3-16). — This bulletin does not report experimental 

 work, but presents an argument in favor of a state-wide study of soil and crop 

 conditions. 



The action of the soil on substances in suspension and in solution, A. 

 Petit {Rev. Hort. [Paris], H5 (1013), No. 4, PP- 86, 87).— This is a somewhat 

 general discussion of this subject and summarizes briefly some of the more 

 recent investigations on the subject. 



The effect of mixing with a lighter soil moor soil, marl, clay, and straw, 

 Gerlach (Landw. Vers. Stat., 79-80 {1913), pp. 6Si-699 ) .—Preliminary tests 

 of the effect of applications of lowland moor soil, marl (61.4 per cent of CaCOs). 

 clay, and straw on the yield of potatoes, barley, peas, wheat, and sugar beets 

 on a loamy sand, low in humus, with and without the addition of a basal 

 fertilizer, are reported. 



The results in general showed a marked increase in yield of the various crops 

 from applications of the different materials, but their effect was much reduced 

 when they were used in combination with a basal fertilizer. 



Improvement of an agricultural soil near Rome, G. De Angelis D'Ossat 

 {Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat e Nat., 5. ser., 22 {1913), I, No. 

 J{, pp. 2Jf6-252). — The physical properties of the soil as affected by marling were 

 studied. 



The action of soils containing graphite on germinating and growing plants, 

 F. Kabyz {Ztschr. P flans enkrank., 23 {1913), No. 2, pp. 12-81, fig. J).— Pot ex- 

 periments with soils containing varying amounts of gi*aphite, up to 80 per cent 

 showed that more than 50 per cent of graphite interfered to some extent with 

 germination and growth. Transpiration was also increased by the presence of 

 graphite in the soil, but the assimilation of plant food was not appreciably 

 affected. It appears therefore that, while graphite does not play an entirely 

 indifferent role in the soil, it is in no sense poisonous and injures only those 

 plants which are very sensitive to increased transpiration. 



Soil temperature in its relation to plant growth, W. Naegleb {Mitt. Justus 

 Perthes' Geogr. Anst., 58 {1912), Nov., pp. 253-257, fig. 1; Umschau, 17 {1913), 

 No. 10, pp. 192, 193; abs. m Met. Ztschr., 30 {1913), No. 1, p. 7/3).— This article 

 reviews investigations on this subject, discussing particularly soil temperature 

 as a plant biological and geographical factor, the relation of soil temperature to 

 phenological phenomena, the influence of geographical position and sea level 

 upon vegetation aJid soil temperature, and the relation of the coming of spring 

 to a temperature of 10° C. in the soil and the duration of sunshine. 



The author concludes that there is a direct relation between soil temperature 

 and the coming of spring. A deficiency of 1° C. in the average soil temperature 

 at depths of from J to 1 meter in March and April delays spring 10 days. The 

 blooming of apples coincides closely with the appearance of a temperature of 

 10° in the soil at a depth of I meter. A decrease in the average daily duration 

 of sunshine of 1 hour during the winter lowers the temperature of the soil dur- 

 ing March and AprU 3° and delays spring 1 month. 



