SOILS FERTILIZERS. 421 



and describes certain of the cultivated soils of Java and Deli and of Sumatra, 

 more especially those of Deli. 



The Java sugar cane soils in general contain between 0.5 and 63 per cent of 

 sand and coarse matter and from zero to 45 per cent of fine silt. They are 

 divided into clay, sandy, and gravel soils. The majority of these soils are 

 said to contain more than 0.5 per cent of assimilable lime, although the heavier 

 soils are richer in assimilable lime than the lighter. The total potash con- 

 tent lies between 0.37 and 1.53 per cent, and the phosphoric acid content 

 between 0.01 and 0.27 per cent. It is claimed tliat sugar soils containing only 

 O.OOC. per cent of phosphoric acid yielded a good crop when irrigated with silt- 

 laden water. The productiveness of sugar soils is said to depend largely on 

 the content of nitrogen and organic matter, the soils containing from 0.03 to 

 O.IC per cent of nitrogen and from 0.7 to 3.5 per cent of organic matter. The 

 organic matter contained from 2 to 7 per cent of nitrogen. 



The Java tea soils are of volcanic origin, corresponding to laterite and con- 

 taining considerable hygroscopic water. For p^oducti^■eness a high humus 

 content is considered necessary. These soils contained from 2.9 per cent organic 

 matter and 0.12 per cent nitrogen fc^r old worn-out tea soils to 8.1 per cent 

 organic matter and 0.39 per cent nitrogen for very productive tea soils. The 

 organic matter is said to contain about 5 per cent nitrogen. The acid-soluble 

 phosphoric acid content lies between 0.09 and 0.22 per cent, the potassium be- 

 tween 0.03 and 0.10 per cent, and the lime between 0.02 and 0.12 per cent. 



The coffee soils contain considerable humus which contains about 5 per cent 

 nitrogen. Although the humus is not acid the soils are said to need lime. 



The tobacco soils are largely weathered laterite, containing much coarse 

 material and little plant food, the light sandy soils containing more phosphoric 

 acid, however, than the heavier soils. The Deli tobacco soils are, in the order 

 of their humus content and productivity, black sandy humus, sandy clay choco- 

 late colored, red brown, and red soils. The characteristics of the best tobacco 

 soils are said to be a high content of humus, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, soluble 

 potassium, and soluble basic colloidal aluminum silicates, containing much 

 hygroscopic water, and of such a composition that a hard clay mass is not 

 formed. 



Soils, J. C. Brunnich (Anri. Rpt. Dept. Agr. and Stock [Queensland], 1912- 

 13, pp. 53, 54, 58-71). — Analyses of soil samples which are said to be well 

 distributed over the State of Queensland show the majority of them to be acid. 

 The results of soil moisture determinations indicate " the importance of thor- 

 ough cultivation for the conservation of moisture in the soil." 



Analyses of rocks and limestones indicate that '* limestone of high quality 

 exists in the State." 



An interesting- soil . water question in British Guiana, M. Bird (Jour. 

 Indus, and Engin. CJiem., 5 (1913), No. 12, pp. 1012, 1013).— Analyses of soils 

 from sugar estates on the coastal lands of British Guiana which are reported 

 show that these soils are well supplied with plant food but contain a decided 

 excess of magnesia over lime. The drainage waters from these soils ^ow, in 

 some cases, as much as 480 parts of alkali per million of w^ater, and also a large 

 excess of magnesia over lime. There is a large loss of sugar in the case of cane 

 grown on the.se soils due to the fact that the excess of magnesia in the juice 

 interferes with the crystalizatlon of the sugar. The diflSculty was corrected by 

 the liberal application of lime to the soil. 



The judgment of soil structure on experimental g-rounds, Bornemann 

 (Mitt. Deut. Landw. GeselL, 28 (1913), No. 45, pp. 620-623).— A soil sampling 

 cylinder with a special cutting edge is described, which it is claimed will elimi- 



