728 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



different kinds of Malayan soils are reported and discussed with reference to 

 plant-food content and fertilizer requirements. 



The results show that the soils are as a rule rich in humus and nitrogen and 

 almost totally lacking in lime. They have a high clay content and are conse- 

 quently abundantly supplied with potash, which, however, is not very available. 

 The phosphorus content is variable. Correlating the yields with the chemical 

 analyses, it appears that available phosphate is, as a rule, the controlling ele- 

 ment of fertility, especially in the paddy soils. 



Analyses of soils, B. C. Aston {Jour. Agr. [New Zeal.], 6 {1913), No. 5, 

 pp. 508, 509). — Chemical analyses of 32 samples of typical soils used in coopera- 

 tive experiments in different parts of New Zealand are reported. Both total 

 and available potash and phosphoric acid are given. The larger proportion of 

 the soils was found to be acid. Some of them were well supplied with plant 

 food, others were very deficient in this respect. In 13 of the soils the mag- 

 nesia exceeded the lime. 



A report of progress in soil fertility investigations, J. G. Hutton (South 

 Dakota Sta. Bui. 145, pp. 235-263, figs. 2). — The field experiments reported upon 

 In this bulletin have been carried on at the central station at Brookings and at 

 the Highmore, Eureka, and Cottonwood substations. The experiments are be- 

 ing conducted on tenth-acre plats treated as follows : " The first plat receives 

 no plant food, the second receives nitrogen only, the third receives phosphorus 

 only, the fourth receives potassium only, the fifth receives no plant food, the 

 sixth receives nitrogen and phosphorus, the seventh receives nitrogen and po- 

 tassium, the eighth receives phosphorus and potassium, the ninth receives nitro- 

 gen and phosphorus and potassium, the tenth receives no plant food." The 

 treatment otherwise is the same for all plats. Five years' results with two 

 rotations, (1) corn, oats, wheat, barley, and clover, and (2) corn, wheat, barley, 

 oats, and clover, at Brookings are summarized. 



The results indicate that phosphorifs is the limiting element of plant food in 

 the Brookings soil. The average value of the crops during five years on this 

 soil " was greater where phosphorus alone was applied than where any other 

 element of plant food was applied or where any combination of elements of 

 plant food was applied." It was 31.1 per cent greater where phosphorus alone 

 was applied than where no phosphorus was used. 



Increasing- crop yields in Ohio (Ohio Sta. Circ. 138, pp. 135-137). — This 

 circular summarizes the results of experiments with fertilizers and manure on 

 crops grown in rotation during a period of 20 years on thin, somewhat sandy, 

 yellow clay upland of the station farm and for shorter periods on soils in other 

 parts of the State. 



The results show that the yields of corn, wheat, hay, and oats can be in- 

 creased to about twice that of the averages for Ohio by means which will be 

 abundantly reimbursed in each year's crops. Such results were obtained on 

 a 40-acre tract of land by applying manure, reenforced with acid phosphate or 

 raw rock phosphate, directly from the stables to the clover sod to be turned 

 under for corn, the oats following receiving no treatment, but wheat following 

 the oats receiving a complete fertilizer made up of about 200 lbs. steamed bone 

 meal, 100 lbs. acid phosphate, and 40 lbs. muilate of potash in the fall, followed 

 by 60 lbs. nitrate of soda in the spring. The phosphate was dusted on the ma- 

 nure in the stables at the rate of 1 lb. per 1,000 lbs. of live weight of animals 

 per day. The wheat was followed by clover, completing the rotation. 



Alpine fertilizer experiments in Carinthia, 1910-1912, H. Svoboda {Ztschr. 

 Lan&w. Versuchsw. Osterr., 16 (1912), No. 7, pp. 7^5-789 ) .—The results of 

 numerous cooperative experiments on alpine pastures and grass lands are 

 reported, the results of which are largely of special or local interest. 



