SOILS FERTILIZERS. 19 



addition information Is given regarding the location of watering places on routes 

 of travel for the benefit of strangers traveling through the region. 



The pollution of underground waters with sewage through fissures in 

 rocks, H. Albert (Science, n. ser., S8 (1913), No. 972, pp. 2S8, 239).— A case of 

 supposed pollution of underground waters through rock flssues is noted. A 

 water supply taken from three deep wells became polluted from the deepest 

 well which was sunk at the bottom of a shaft used previously for water sup- 

 plies and extending through 31 ft. of alluvial soil and clay, 6 ft. of limestone, 

 27 ft. of blue shale, 6 ft. of limestone, and 42 ft. of sandstone. From the 

 nature of the existing strata and from bacteriological and clinical examinations 

 of the water it is concluded that polluted river and ground water passed readily 

 through the top layer of soil and gravel to and through the fissures in the upper 

 layer of limestone to and along the relatively impermeable layer of shale in the 

 direction of least resistance toward the shaft. 



The sewage sludge problem and its solution, J, Grossmann (Surveyor, 43 

 (1913), No. 1111, pp. 926-928).— A paper on this subject is given in abstract 

 with discussion. 



The Grossmann process for recovery of grease and preparation of a sludge 

 fertilizer in use at Oldham, England, is described. The sludge fertilizer ob- 

 tained is a dry, friable, inodorous material containing about 2 per cent of am- 

 monia, from 3 to 5 per cent of calcium phosphate, and 1^ per cent of potash 

 salts, and is in demand by farmers. It is said to furnish a good basis for 

 mixed fertilizers. 



SOnS—FEETILIZERS. 



Soils of the United States, C. F. Maebut, H. H. Bennett, and J. E. and 

 M. H. Lapham (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Soils Bui. 96, pp. 791, pis. 15). — This is 

 a combination of features of Bulletins 55 and 78 of the Bureau of Soils (E. S. 

 R., 20, p. 915; 25, p. 426), revised to January 1, 1912. It describes the soils 

 of this country as far as they are known at present, and includes also a discus- 

 sion of methods of soil classification. 



A study of the soils of Macon County, Alabama, and their adaptability to 

 certain crops, G. W. Cabveb (Alabama Tushegee Sta. Bui. 25, pp. 5-13). — The 

 soil types of the county, as defined by the Bureau of Soils, are described and 

 their crop adaptations and methods of management are discussed. With the 

 exception of the Norfolk coarse sand and Norfolk gravelly loam, which are so 

 porous as to be nearly always in a drought-stricken condition, the soils are 

 generally well adapted to the growing of field, garden, and fruit crops, and 

 nuts. Among the fruits which may be successfully grown are apples, pears, 

 plums, grapes, figs, strawberries, blackberries, mulberries, and pomegranates. 

 The clay soils are said to need drainage especially, and deep cultivation and 

 the addition of vegetable matter are suggested for all the types. 



The gullied lands of west Tennessee, A. H. Ptjrdue (Resources Tenn., S 

 (1913), No. 3, pp. 119-136, figs. 8).— Attention is called to the enormous annual 

 waste from soil wash in western Tennessee. The tendency of the soils of that 

 locality to wash is attributed to the fact that they are loose and sandy and 

 contain more or less clay. The conditions favorable for rapid wash of sand 

 clay soils are stated to be steep slopes, rapid rainfall, and absence of vegetation. 



Deep, close plowing, parallel to the contours and turning of the soil down 

 hill, are urged as measures for preventing wash. It is pointed out that the 

 existence of gullies in fields causes the ground water level to sink beyond the 

 reach of plants and also tends to leach out and drain away soluble soil constitu- 

 ents and fertilizerg. To prevent this and to check the spread of wash it is 



