514 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. 



nesium, and potassium, predominates. There was found to be a striljing rela- 

 tion between the salt content of the soils and the general condition of the cane 

 grown on them. 



The general conclusion from all the results obtained was that, if the ground 

 water is below the reach of cane roots, the sum of bicarbonic acid and chloriu 

 may safely rise to 0.4 per cent. The injurious effect of the chlorids varied 

 inversely with the proportion of sulphates present. Thorough drainage is 

 considered the prime requisite for reclaiming these soils. 



The origin, formation, nature, and culture of moors, E. Benze {Entsteliung. 

 Aiifbau und Eigenarten der Moore, sowie ihre BedeuUmg filr die Kultur, unter 

 hesonderer Berucksichtigung der nordwestdeutschen MoorgeUete. Inaug. Diss., 

 Univ. Erlangen, 1911, pp. IX+107). — The study reported in this doctor's thesis 

 dealt esTecially with the moor region of northwest Germany, and included not 

 only the origin, distribution, nature, and culture of the moor lands, but also 

 their importance from the scientific, historical, and sociological standpoint. A 

 short section discusses the chemical and physical properties of moor soils in 

 relation to culture, water control, and climate. A list of references to the litera- 

 ture is included. 



Soils, H. J. ViPOND (Union So. Africa Dept. Agr. Rpt. 1910-11, pp. 37//-390. 

 406-Jill, 418-Jf22). — Chemical analyses of a large number of samples of soils from 

 different parts of South Africa are reported and discussed with reference to their 

 plant-food content and fertilizer requirement. Especial consideration is also 

 given to the lime-magnesia ratio and the ratio of available to total phosphoric 

 acid in relation to the productiveness of the different soils. 



[TJsar and regur soils], J. W. Leather (Ann. Rpt. Ed. Sci. Advice India, 

 1911-12, pp. 24-30). — This is mainly a review of investigations which have been 

 more fully reported elsewhere. The nature and movement of alkali salts in 

 usar soil and the nature of the coloring matter of regur (black cotton) soils 

 were studied. The alkali as a rule contained sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, 

 usually with smaller amounts of sodium chlorid and sulphate. 



The permeability of the soils to water wa.s very slight and therefore the ver- 

 tical movement of the salts was very slow. The alkali in irrigated land was not 

 different in general character from that of unirrigated soil. The author con- 

 cludes from his studies of certain regur soils that their dark color is largely 

 due to a cementing material, partly organic, and not to titaniferous magnetite 

 as in cases reported previously by himself and others (E. S. R., 27, p. 823). 



Contribution to regional weathering in ancient times, E. Blanck (Mitt. 

 Landw. Inst. Breslau, 6 (1913), No. 5, pp. 619-6S2) .—This article deals more 

 particularly, and in considerable detail, with the geological origin of the red 

 soils. 



Wai-ping, J. Stephenson (Jour. Roy. Agr. Soc. England, 73 (1912), pp. 

 104-113). — Warping, as practiced in England, is defined, its history is briefly 

 discussed, chemical analyses of the warp deposited by the Trent and Ouse 

 rivers are given, and the methods of warping employed in the regions sur- 

 rounding the outfalls of the Trent and of the Yorkshire Ouse are described. 

 It is explained that warp is the local name for the earthy particles held in 

 suspension by the tidal waters in the rivers, probably derived from erosion of 

 the coastal rocks, and is not the silt derived from soil erosion. The former has 

 a high fertilizing value, whereas the latter may be a serious detriment when 

 deposited on land. 



The influence of various factors of growth, especially water, on the 

 maximum yield in pot experiments, T. Pfeiffer, E. Blanck, and K. Fkiske 

 (Landw. Vers. Stat., 82 (1913), No. 3-4, pp. 237-298, figs. 11; abs. in Ztschr. 

 Angew. Chem., 26 (1913), No. 82, Referatenteil, p. 601). — The details of experi- 



