SOILS FERTILIZERS. 119 



The artesian water supply of eastern and southern Florida, E. XL Sel- 

 LARDs and H. Guntee (Fla. Geol. Survey Ann. Rpt., 5 {1912), pp. 97-290, pis. 5, 

 figs. 17). — This paper, which is the fourth of a series (E. S. R., 29, p. 315), 

 includes a reprint of a paper on the water supply of eastern Florida (E. S. R., 

 25, p. 18), revised to include a report on the water supply of southern Florida. 

 In the combined reports the artesian water supply is discussed in detail for 

 each county lying in a section bordering the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and com- 

 prising the priucijtal artesian areas of Peninsular Florida. 



Report of the interstate conference on artesian water, Sydney, 1912 (Rpt. 

 Interstate Conf. ArtesUni Water [Aust.^, 1012, pp. Xy-\-207+68, pis. 42).—ThG 

 proceedings of this conference are reported. They dealt chiefly with the extent, 

 methods of obtaining, and utilization of artesian waters for agricultural and 

 other purposes in Xew South Wales. A number of maps, plates, and other data 

 accompany the report. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Soil, soil investigation, and soil valuation, F. Pilz (Jlonatsh. Landw., 6 

 (1913), No. 10, pp. 298-300). — The author reviews the physics and chemistry of 

 soils and soil structure with special reference to the question of fertilization 

 and the use of soil analysis in estimating the value of the soil for cropping 

 purposes. He demonstrates that the kind, amount, and success of fertilization 

 depend on the crop, the fertilizer content of the soil, the physical condition of 

 the soil and subsoil, and other factors, such as climate, cultivation, etc., and 

 points out that to the average farmer a chemical analysis of his soil means 

 practically nothing. He suggests the need of keeping accurate records in each 

 rural district of the physical and chemical conditions of the soils of each farm 

 and of the other local factors affecting crops in order that each farmer may 

 obtain definite and accurate information regarding the necessary mechanical and 

 chemical treatment of his particular soil. 



Chemistry, physics, biolog-y, and cultivation of the soil, ]M. Hoffmann 

 iJahresber. Landw., 27 {1912), pp. 2Jf-60). — Recent reports of investigations on 

 this subject are classified and reviewed as usual. 



Contribution to the study of the soils of the Republic of Argentina, P. 

 Lavenir (An. Min. Agr. Argentina, Seec. Quini., 2 {1912}, Xo, 2, pp. 577, figs. 

 6). — This article describes methods of soil sampling, mechanical, physical, and 

 chemical analysis, and the methods of soil classification employed by Iho 

 chemical laboratory of the department of agriculture of Argentina, and draws 

 conclusions regarding the practical interpretation and application of the results 

 of analysis. Analyses are reported of a large number of samples of representa- 

 tive agricultural soils from the different Provinces of Argentina, most of which 

 show conditions very favorable to agriculture. 



Soil culture in Iceland, P. M. Grunee {Arch. Biontol, S {1912), No. 2, pp. 

 VI -{-213, pis. 2, figs. 28). — This work reviews the natural history of Iceland in 

 its relation to the formation of swamps and describes the swamps from the 

 standpoint of their value as sources of i)eat fuel and as meadow lands. In 

 addition there is a somewhat lengthy discussion of garden cultivation as 

 practiced in Iceland, including descriptions of soils, fertilizers, crops, climate, 

 and other factors closely related to this work. 



The results of mixed cultivation with loam in Finland, A. Rindell {Jahrb. 

 Moork., 1 {1912), pp. 19-34). — A number of experiments were made in drained 

 and burnt over peat swamps to determine the beneficial effect of adding differ- 

 ent amounts of loam supplemented by phosphoric acid, potash, and lime as 

 fertilizers. 



