AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 223 



a very complicated bacteriological process probably involving a number of 

 different kinds of bacteria. The addition of calcium carbonate greatly accel- 

 erated oxidation, but sterilization almost entirely prevented it. 



The composition of sediments from the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, 

 J. G. Smith and W. H. Fky {Jour. Indus, and fJinjin. Ghcin., 5 1913), No. 12, 

 pp. 1009-1011). — Mineralogical and chemical analyses of a large number of 

 samples of the sediments are reported. 



The minerological character of the sediments of the two rivers was decidedly 

 different. The chemical analyses showed no definite relation between the 

 composition and the amount of sediment carried by the streams when the sam- 

 ples were taken, and no uniformity of chemical composition of the sediments 

 as a whole. It was found, however, that the fine particles were comparatively 

 high in potash, phosphoric acid, lime, organic matter, etc. 



The production and consumption of chemical fertilizers in the world 

 (Production et Consomniation des Engrais Ghimiques dans le Monde. Rome: 

 Inst. Iniernat. Agr., 1913, pp. VI-\-134, pis. 6; rev. in Jour. Soc. Cliem. Indus., 

 32 (1913), No. 15, pp. 801, 802).— Thin report gives detailed statistics as far as 

 they are available of the production of raw materials supplying phosphoric 

 ncid, potash, and nitrogen in fertilizers, and of the consumption of commercial 

 fertilizers in 62 different countries, with a statement of the sources from which 

 the information was drawn. 



It is estimated that the value of the fertilizers at present consumed in the 

 world exceeds $400,000,000. The average consumption is stated to exceed 178 

 lbs. per acre of cultivated area in Belgium, Mauritius, and Luxemburg, and to 

 vary from 89 to 178 lbs. in Germany and the Netherlands; from 45 to 89 lbs. in 

 Denmark, United States (southern States), France, England. Australia, Italy, 

 and Switzerland; from 9 to 45 lbs. in Austria, Hungary, Spain, United States 

 (northeast), Norway, Dutch East Indies, Portugal, and Sweden. "All the re- 

 maining countries consume less than 9 lbs. per acre or an unknown amount." 

 As a rule the latest figures given are those for 1911. 



Commercial fertilizers and their importance in the world's industry, K. 

 KuBiEESCHKY {Ztschv. Augew. Chem., 26 {1913), No. 97, Aufsatzteil, pp. 721- 

 729, fig. 1). — A historical and general review of this subject, based in part 

 upon the report noted above. 



AGEICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Department of botanical research, D. T. MacDougal {Carnegie Inst. Wash- 

 ington Year Book, 11 {1912), pp. 49-76, pi. 1). — An outline is given of the work 

 carried on by the members attached to the laboratories maintained by this institu- 

 tion and of investigations carried on under its auspices. These include studies 

 on phyto-chemistry, the water relations of plants, and the environic reactions of 

 organisms. Among some of the lines of work more or less briefly reported upon 

 are the alterations in woody tissues and bacterial action in Salton water, the 

 behavior of micro-organisms in brines, the floral elements of the Salton region, 

 physical and botanical features of Sudanese and Libyan deserts, botanical 

 features of the Algerian Sahara (E. S. R., 29, p. 626), depth of water table as 

 a factor limiting distribution of trees, the soil moisture evaporation index and 

 its relation to vegetation, water relations of plants, physical relations of roots 

 to soil factors, structural relations in xenoparasitism (E. S. R., 28, p. 332), the 

 determination of leaf temperatures, and chemical effects of radiant energy in 

 plant processes. 



A bibliography is appended. 



29663°— No. 3—14 3 



