1919] SOILS FERTILIZEES. 419 



tabular statements of climatological data for each State for March and April, 

 1919, respectively. 



The rainfall of France, E. Mathias {Ann. Chim. et Phys., 9. ser., 12 (1919), 

 Mar.- Apr., pp. 109-244). — The rainfall data for eight different zones of France 

 are summarized and analyzed along the lines indicated in an article previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 41, p, 119), that is, with special reference to the influence of 

 altitude and latitude. The general conclusion reached is that within wide 

 limits (the ai'ea of France, for example) the coefficient of altitude is constant 

 along a given parallel of latitude, regardless of variations in the surface of 

 the soil. 



SOILS— FEETILIZERS. 



Soils and soil cultivation, F. D. Gardner {Philadelphia: John C. Winston 

 Co., 1918, pp. 223, pis. 3, figs. 101). — This book is designed " to be a handy refer- 

 ence work on soils, their classification and treatment, and the proper adapta- 

 tion of crops, with a view to preserving and increasing the fertility of the soil 

 and producing the largest yield in point of quality. . . . 



" Not only are directions given for the management of the soil, but the best 

 types of farm buildings and equipment are fully described and Illustrated, 

 including farm machinery of the latest type, farm sanitation, drainage, and 

 irrigation." 



Soil survey of Caldwell County, N. C, W. B. Cobb and S. F. Davidson ( U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Adv. Sheets Field Oper. Bur. Soils, 1917, pp. 29, fig. 1, map 1). — This 

 survey, made in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Agricul- 

 ture, deals with the soils of an area of 327,680 acres situated in the north- 

 western part of the State. The topography of the northern two-thirds of the 

 county is described as mountainous, and that of the southern third undulating 

 to rolling. Natural drainage is well established. 



The soils of the area are included in the Piedmont Plateau, the Appalachian 

 Mountains, and the River Flood Plains provinces. The Piedmont soils have 

 been derived largely from granite, gneiss, and schist, and the mountain soils 

 chiefly from Carolina gneiss. The alluvial soils include both first-bottom and 

 terrace material. In addition to rough, stony land, 13 soil types representing 

 8 series are mapped. Porters loam, Ashe loam, and Cecil clay loam, occupying 

 34.9, 19.6, and 15.9 per cent of the total area, respectively, predominate. 



Pleistocene and recent deposits in the vicinity of Ottawa, with, a descrip- 

 tion of the soils, AV. A. Johnston {Canada Dept. Mines, Geol. Survey Mem. 

 101 {1911), pp. 11+69, pis. 2, figs. 7).— This report deals with the geology and 

 soils of an area of 419 square miles along the Ottawa River and within the 

 St. Lawrence drainage basin. The soils of the area are as a whole somewhat 

 calcareous and are of glacial and marine origin. They are light to medium 

 dark in color. 



" The ' lightest ' soils of the district are the feolian, river gravel, and beach 

 soils. They occupy small areas and, on account of the relief of the surface and 

 open porous character of much of the material, tend to be excessively drained 

 and are easily affected by drought in dry seasons. The marine fine sand is also 

 a light soil and has a loose porous structure, but on account of its nearly level 

 or gently sloping surface and finer texture is not so easily affected by drought. 

 The ' heaviest ' soils of the area are the marine clay and clay loam soils. The 

 soils intermediate between the light and heavy soils are the marine fine sandy 

 loam soil and the glacial soils, of which the most important is the gravelly fine 

 sandy loam. These soils are also of considerable extent." 



The marine soils, including fine sand, fine sandy loam, clay loam, and clay, 

 are the most extensive, covering over 60 per cent of the land of the area. 



