1920] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 21 



The chemical principles employed in the method are as follows : To bring 

 the acidity of the soil into liquid suspension where it can be measured, the 

 soil is suspended in a strictly neutral solution of -calcium nitrate of sp. gr. 1.3 

 at 76° F. After suspension in 60 cc. of this solution for from 5 to 10 minutes 

 with thorough shaking, the mixture of soil and solution is filtered through a 

 neutral filter paper and the first 15 or 20 drops of extract are rejected to correct 

 for absorption of the paper. An aliquot portion of the soil extract, 15 cc, is 

 used for titration. The alkali used in titration is a solution of sodium carbonate 

 having a strength of n/49.5. The indicator used is methyl red which does not 

 react freely to carbonates. 



The amount of soil used in the test is 6.166 cc. The sample of soil is 

 measured by liquid displacement. No heat is used, and the necessity for 

 mathematical calculations is eliminated by the character of the outfit and the 

 strength of the solution. The number of cubic centimeters of alkali required 

 is read direct from the scale, the strength of the alkali in comparison with the 

 volume of the soil used being siich that each scale division represents a lime 

 absorption equivalent to 500 lbs. of calcium oxid per acre 6 in. of soil. Every 

 fourth division represents one ton, and these are numbered from the bottom. 



The results of a few determinations of soil acidity by the method are given. 



Reclaiming Iowa's *' push " soils, L. W. Forman {Iowa Sta. Bui. 191 

 (1919), pp. 162-176, figs. 7). — This report deals with the so-called push soils of 

 southern Iowa, which occur as small partially unproductive areas on hillsides 

 where the surface loess soil is shallow and a heavy impervious clay subsoil 

 appears near or at the surface. These soils occur in otherwise productive land 

 in areas varying from ttj to 1 or 2 acres. Seepage spots frequently occur 

 in connection with push soils. 



Analyses of samples of push soils show that they are not lacking in plant 

 nutrients, but are deficient in organic matter and are acid in reaction. Phos- 

 phorus and nitrogen are generally found in sufhcient amounts for good crop 

 growth at present, but with increased crop production these elements will need 

 to be applied. Five years' results from a field experiment on a typical push 

 soil area show the value of drainage, deep tillage, manuring, and liming on the 

 wheat, corn, oats, and soy beans of the rotation. Drainage is very essential 

 for the reclamation of push soils and should be the first treatment practiced. 

 Manuring proved a most valuable treatment and is recommended, especially 

 in connection with drainage and deep plowing, which is distinctly profitable 

 on push soils. 



The improvement and irrigation requirement of wild meadow and tide 

 land, W L. Powers and W. W. Johnston (Oregon Sta. Bui. 167 (1920), pp. 3-^. 

 figs. 25). — Experiments conducted as a phase of the Oregon Soil and Soil 

 Water Investigations, in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture, are reported on the reclamation of the wild meadow and tule lands in 

 eastern Oregon, which cover 355,000 and 160,000 acres, respectively. The wild 

 meadow land comprises over one-third of the irrigated area of the State. 



The chief soil types are silt loam and peat. The chief vegetation on the 

 peat swamps is tules and flags mingled with wire and sugar grass, while the 

 chief meadow grasses are redtop, blue joint, ^^^re grass, and wild clovers. 

 These swamp lands are irrigated by wild flooding from sloughs and canals led 

 along the contour lines. The water table is raised and sheet water is kept 

 on the surface until a short time before harvest, when part of it is removed by 

 a crude system of drainage. 



The average monthly precipitation for the summer months during the past 

 five years has been slightly below normal. The temperature has been slightly 



