ll»20] SOILS iKHTILlZKK.S, 721 



Analyses of soils of Eritrea, A. Cauda (.If/r. Colon. [Italy], Vi {1020), \o. J, 

 PI). 226-228). — Analyses «»f sanii)les of a number of different soils from Eritrea 

 iire reixiileil and discussed, showinir tliat tlie mattt-r s(iiul)le in concentrated 

 livdna-iduric acid varies fnmr a niiiiiinuni of '.)~.^>l to a iiiaxiniuni of 104.70 ;;ni. 

 per tliousand of line soil. Calcimu oxid comprised from O.TG to 23 per cent of 

 the soluble matter, potash from l..">,s to T.lt.'J per cent, phosplmric acid from 0.38 

 to 2.68 per cent, and total nitroj^en from 0.37 to 1.96 per cent. 



It is concluded that the averajre chemical compo.sition of these soils cor- 

 responds to good Italian field soils. 



Sandy soils, W. J. Spakfoku (Jour. Deid. Ayr. So. Au-st.. 2S {1920), No. 10, 

 pp. 820-838). — The results of experiments on the improvement of sandy soils 

 in South Australia are reviewtnl, it hein^ shown that the most profitable han- 

 dling of these soils after the bulk of their organic matter content has become 

 exhaustetl consists of i/asturing with very infrequent cropping. 



For the purpo.se of carrying much live stock, lucern is said to be tlie most 

 useful crop used in a rotation of fallow, wheat with lucern, and lucern alone 

 for three successive years. On sandy soil it was found that from one course 

 <»f .such a rotation from 1914 to 191S the returns were nearly four times as 

 much per acre per year as for wheat or bare fallow similarly fertilized. 

 Where such soils are to be cropped, owing to insuflicient water sui)ply for live 

 stock, the land should be plowed early and heavily fertilized. 



Soils {MinHonri St a. lUil. 112 {1020). pp. 37-.'f.'f. fig. i).— Experiments con- 

 ducted by M. F. Miller, R. H. HudeLson, and F. L. Duley, on the relative values 

 of different forms of phosphorus upon the soil at the station, showed that cal- 

 cined phosphate gave the best results, followed in order by acid pho.sphate. 

 basic slag, rock phosphate, and bone meal. 



Experiments conducted by W. A. Albrecht on the fertilizing value of bat 

 guano obtained from caves in the southern half of the State showed it to be 

 e^iual to dried blood and tankage in ammonia production -in soil and superior 

 to tankage in nitrate production, but not the (Hjual of blood. In pot cultures 

 with oats, guano supplying 100 lbs. of nitrogen per acre gave results equivalent 

 to those from dried blood and tankage added at twice that rate or ammonium 

 sulphate at the same rate. Studies on the longevity of Pseudomonafi radicicola 

 by Albrecht showed that even though the soil which had grown legumes was 

 dried in the sun and stored for from 6 to 12 months, there were enough active 

 bacteria present to produce as good an inoculation as soil which was dried in 

 the dark fir left out of doors. 



Kxi)eriments conducted by Miller and Duley on the effect of weathering and 

 storage upon the composition of mule manure are reported. One ton of the 

 manure was stored in a galvanized iron pan 10 ft. square and 6 in. de<^p, another 

 ton was placed in a similar pan provided with drainage, and a third ton on the 

 ground in a conical pile. After five months' exposure to the weather the ma- 

 nures stored in the pan without drainage and in the conical pile lost about one- 

 third of their dry matter, while that in the pan having drainage lost 4") ptT 

 cent. The nitrogen loss from the conical pile was slightly less than from the 

 undrainefl pan, but the loss of potash was nearly five times as great. The 

 greatest loss of jtotash was from the drained pan. but the nitrogen loss was 

 small. 



The results of two year.s' experiments by Miller and Duley on run-off and 

 absorption of rain water showed that land plowed 8 in. deep lost nearly two 

 and one-half times as much soil as land having no cultivation. Land plowed 

 4 in. deep lost nearly as nuich as that plowed 8 in. deej). Sod land was most 

 efTicient in preventing erosion and absorbed a greater percentage of the rain- 



