316 EXPERIMEKT STATION" RECOED. 



DecompositiOli of silicates by soil bacteria, I, K. Bassalik (Ztschr. Odrungg- 

 phys-loL, 2 (1912), No. 1, pp. 1-S2; abs. in Gentbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. AM., 37 

 (1913), No. Jf-6, p. lOlf). — ^An account is here given of investigations on the 

 relation of angleworms to the activity of soil bacteria and. on the decomposi- 

 tion of orthoclase by soil bacteria. 



It was found that the same bacterial flora occurred in the alimentary canal 

 and excrement of angleworms as in the soil from which they were taken, but 

 that the bacteria were much more active in the former case in the decomposi- 

 tion processes in the soil. The worms acted not only directly in decomposing 

 mineral substances in the soil, but also indirectly by grinding and polishing 

 the soil particles so that the kaolin coating was i-emoved and fresh surfaces 

 presented for the decomposing processes. Bacteria were found to be capable 

 of corroding polished marble and of penetrating between the lamellae of mica. 

 They were also capable of utilizing the feldspar as a source of mineral plant 

 food and of bringing into solution appreciable amounts of powdered un- 

 weathered orthoclase largely by means of the carbon dioxid which they pro- 

 duce. Especially active in this respect on account of its great energy ol 

 respiration was a new si)ecies for which the name Bacillus extorquens is pro- 

 posed. 



The action of cold on micro-org-anisms and their activity in the soil, 

 G. G. A. Webee (Die Einwirkung der Kdlte auf die Mikro-organismen und ihre 

 Tdtigkeit im Boden. Inaug. Diss., Univ. Jena, 1912. pp. S8; rev. in Centbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 37 (1913). No. Jt-6, p. ijf5).— Seven soils of different prop- 

 erties were subjected to temperatures of from — 10 to — 20° C. for 14-day 

 periods and the effect upon the number of micro-organisms, as well as upon 

 nitrification and denitrification, was observed. The bacterial count was greatly 

 increased by the treatment, denitrification was slightly decreased, and the 

 effect on nitrification was variable. 



Tests of a bacteria-inoculating preparation, G. Bredemann (Landw. Jahrb., 

 43 (1913), No. 5, pp. 669-694). — Tests of an American proprietary article for 

 increasing the nitrogen assimilation by leguminous plants are reported. 



A note on the protozoa from sick soils v/ith some account of the life 

 cycle of a flagellate monad, C. H. Martin (Proc. Roy. 8oc. [London], Ser. B, 

 85 (1912), No. B 580, pp. 393-^00, pi. 1; abs. in Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2 Abt. 

 31 (1913), No. If-C, p. 105). — A large number of protozoa isolated from sewage- 

 sick soils by means of agar plate cultures are described, especial attention being 

 given to a flagellate monad which appeared to be identical with Cercomonas 

 termo. 



The chemistry of the soil nitrogen, S. L. Jodidi (Jour. Franklin Inst., 175 

 (1913), No. 5. pp. Ji83-Jf95). — This article is based largely upon investigations 

 by the author noted elsewhere (E. S. R., 2G, p. 615; 29, p. 124), but also reveiws 

 and gives a bibliography of the literature of other investigations on the subject. 

 It is shown that the proteins and nucleoproteids constitute the greater part of 

 the nitrogen compounds of the soil ; that, while amino acids and acid amids do 

 not accumulate to any considerable extent in the soil, they are important 

 transition stages between the proteins and nucleoproteids and ammonia ; that 

 ammonia and nitrites do not accumulate to any extent in the soil but are 

 valuable transition products in the formation of nitrates; and that nitrates, 

 representing the final stage in the transformation of nitrogenous compounds 

 in the soil, can under certain conditions accumulate in the soil, but ordinarily 

 are rapidly taken up by plants or leached out i,n the drainage. 



Importance of the error of analysis in the solution of the question of the 

 nitrogen economy of cultivated soils, T. PfEiFFER and E. Blanck (Landw. 



