320 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



constitute an important part of the great truck soils of the coast, while the re- 

 maining 90 per cent is lying idle or is used for general farming to which 

 they are not adapted. The Portsmouth series in this province is second in ex- 

 tent and if well drained is adapted to truck and garden crops. lu province ^o. 

 4 the Hagerstown series predominates and is well suited to cultivation. In 

 province No. 5 meadow and swamp soils largely predominate. The cultivated 

 soils are chiefly of the Wickham and Congaree series, both having relatively 

 high agricultural values. 



Soil building for South Carolina, W. H. Barton (South Carolina Sta. Circ. 

 /13, pp. 8). — This circular presents by diagram the logical order of practice con- 

 sidered necessary for the enrichment of the soils of the State, briefly indicates 

 some of the results of such practice, outlines methods of procedure, and sug- 

 gests a plan of cooperation between agricultural and country school education. 



The formation of laterite in the soils of southern Italy, L. Bernaedini and 

 G. Mazzone {Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 46 {1913), No. 2, pp. 146-156; ahs. in Chem. 

 ZcntU., 1913, I, No. 18, p. 1624; Chem. Ads., 7 (1913), No. 19, p. 3381).— To 

 determine the extent to which laterite formation had gone on, 5 gm. of the fine 

 soil was first boiled for | hour in 80 cc. of hydrochloric acid (specific gravity 

 1.2). The acid was decanted and the process repeated for i hour with fresh 

 acid, then after a second decantation again repeated for i hour. The insoluble 

 residue was neutralized, further digested at from 50 to 60° C. for 5 minutes 

 with a solution of sodium hydroxid (specific gravity 1.04), and the silica and 

 alumina determined in the combined acid and alkali extracts. The Insoluble 

 residue from this treatment was evaporated to dryness with from 10 to 20 cc. 

 of concentrated sulphuric acid, neutralized with sodium hydroxid, digested for 

 20 minutes at from 50 to 60° with 80 cc. of sodium hydroxid (specific gravity 

 1.06) and the silica and. alumina determined in the solutions. 



If the first treatment (with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxid) showed 

 three or more parts of silica to one of alumina this was taken to indicate or- 

 dinary clay decomposition. If, however, the ratio was appreciably less than 

 3 : 1 and at the same time the ratio obtained by the second treatment ( with sul- 

 phuric acid and alkali) was over 3:1, laterite formation was indicated. 



The results of these tests showed that laterite formations predominated in 

 southern Italy in contrast to the soils of middle Italy. 



Report on soil studies in Bessarabia, A. J. Nabokich (Internat. Mitt. 

 Bodenk., 3 (1913), No. 4, pp. 338-352, pi. 1). — This report describes the geology, 

 climate, and geography of the region in their relations to soil formation and 

 composition. 



The geological formations are said to be largely the results of ancient ero- 

 sions. Chernozem soils rich in carbonates, sodium salts, and gypsum predom- 

 inate, and some also contain considerable phosphoric acid. As the alkalis are 

 found mainly in the lower strata of these soils, it is concluded that they were 

 formed by the climate of a preceding age. 



The main chernozem zone soil is said to contain from 5 to 10 per cent humus, 

 that of the southern border from 3 to 5 per cent, and that of the coast from 

 2 to 3 per cent 



Podzol soils containing from 2 to 3 per cent humus, extend the length of 

 the Austrian border, while next to them lie alternating strips of degraded and 

 normal chernozem soils. The chernozem soils are in many places covered with 

 sand or sandy soils, especially in the center of the main zone. 



Deli soils, J. G. C. Vriens (Meded. Deli-Proefstat. Medan, 7 (1912), No. 6, 

 pp. 297-308) .—Tables of chemical, physical, and mechanical analyses of a 

 number of soils are given. 



