218 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



notes on the isolation of various species of Actinomycetes from certain of tliese 

 soils. 



Tile number of Actinomycetes developing on albumin agar ranged from 7,500 

 in Jamesburg cranberry soil from New Jersey to 2,400,000 in a cultivated 

 Oregon adobe-like soil. As compared with the total number of bacteria and 

 Actinomycetes developing on the same media, the percentage of Actinomycetes 

 ranged from 3.5 for the Jamesburg cranberry soil to 46 for Alberta (Canada) 

 garden soil. Tlie average number of Actinomycetes for all the soils examined 

 amounted to 870,500, or 17 per cent of the total flora. It is stated that heavy 

 soils and those rich in undecomposed organic matter generally contain a 

 relatively larger number of Actinomycetes than corresponding lighter soils or 

 soils poor in undecomposed organic material. The isolation of 28 distinct 

 species of Actinomycetes from 20 different soils is held to demonstrate their 

 general distribution in North America and the Hawaiian Islands. 



A list of references comprising 25 titles is appended. 



Illinois crop yields from soil experiment fields, C. (1. Hopkins, F. W. Gab- 

 RETT, J. E. AVhitchukch, and H. F. T. Fahknkopf {Illinois ^St(l,. Bui. 219 (1919), 

 pp. 401-503). — Tabulated data are presented giving the detailed results fi'om 38 

 Illinois soil experiment fields through the season of 1917. The methods of 

 cropping and soil treatment are briefly indicated, more detailed information 

 being given in a previous publication (E. S. R., 36, p. 618). 



Commercial fertilizers for Indiana: What to use, A. T. Wiancko (Indiana 

 Sta. Circ. 92 (1919), pp. 7, fiys. 2). — A tabular statement is presented showing 

 the fertilizer formulas deemed best for different crops and for various soil 

 conditions in the State, as indicated by extensive soil fertility investigations 

 conducted by the station. The composition of the soil, the requirements of the 

 crop, and tlie practice regarding the use of manure and legumes in the rotation 

 form the basis for classification. Brief notes are included on the interpretation 

 of fertilizer formulas, the estimation and comparison of fertilizer values, the 

 home mixing of fertilizers, and the amount of fertilizer to use. 



The agricultural value of organic manures, E. J. Russell (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [London], 28 (1919), No. S, pp. 228-247, fig. J ) .—Experiments at Rothamsted 

 with Peruvian guano, rape cake, and shoddy, as compared with other nitrog- 

 enous fertilizers, are briefly reviewed. 



The relative effectiveness of the three fertilizers was Peruvian guano 100, 

 rape cake 91, and shoddy 88. Shoddy showed a residual effect which would 

 Improve its relative standing. There was no evidence that the nitrogen in rape 

 cake is .superior in crop producing power to that of sulphate of ammonia, and 

 it was less effective than that of nitrate of soda. There was little evidence 

 that rape cake and Peruvian guano permanently benefit the soil. As far as 

 fertilizing value is concerned, there appears to be " no reason why rape cake 

 and guano should ever sell at prices above those obtaining for sulphate of 

 amnKmia and nitrate of soda." 



How the nitrogen problem has been solved, H. J. M. Ceeighton (Jour. 

 Franldin Inst., 187 (1919), Nos. J,, pp. 377-408; 5, pp. 599-610; 6, pp. 705-735, 

 figs. 20). — ^This article describes and discusses the advantages and disadvantages 

 of five different methods which have been proposed for fixation of atmospheric 

 nitrogen as follows: "(1) The direct oxidation of nitrogen to its oxids with 

 subsequent formation of nitric acid or nitrates, as exemplified in the arc 

 processes, (2) the direct combination of nitrogen with hydrogen to form 

 ammonia, as typified by the Haber process, (3) the absolution of nitrogen by 

 carbids, as developed in the cyanamid process, (4) the absorption of nitrogen 

 by metals in the form of nitrids, as represented by the Serpek process, and (5) 



