SOILS FERTILIZERS. 821 



TJne rational improvement of Highland Rim soils, C. A. Mooebs (Tennessee 

 Sta. Bui. 102 {I'Jl.'t), pp. 4.',, fujs. 8).— This hiiUotiu deals in substantially the 

 same manner with the Ili^'hland Kim soils as the bulletin noted above deals 

 with the Cumberland Plateau soils, including some of the same field experi- 

 ments with crops and fertilizers, nnd reaching practically the same conclusions 

 as to the fertilizer requirements of pot'itoes, corn, and other crops on the soils 

 of the two areas. 



" The results of field experiments conducted iu several different counties 

 have demonstrated repeatedly that phosphoric acid is greatly needed by all the 

 Rim soils, that liming is nearly always profitable, and that potash is often 

 needed by the gray soils." 



Experiments with corn following pasture and green manure crops on the 

 very poor gray-colored soils of the area "afford a striking demonstration of the 

 rapidity with which even a poor soil responds to proper treatment . . . and 

 show both the marked increase in yield which may be brought about by the 

 pasturing off of legumes, such as cowpeas and soy beans, and the great value, 

 of acid phosphate rightly used." 



Fertilization of tobacco with 800 lbs. per acre of a mixture of potassium 

 sulphate, acid phosphate, and cotton-seed meal 1:3:4 gave profitable results. 

 Little difference was observed between sodium nitrate and cotton-seed meal 

 as sources of nitrogen for tobacco. The use of farmyard manure increased the 

 tobacco crop, but 6 tons of manure per acre together with 800 lbs. of the com- 

 plete fertilizer noted above proved more profitable than either used alone. To- 

 bacco was not directly benefited by liming, 



A list of crop rotations is suggested including a 5-year rotation for general 

 farming, a 3-year rotation for green manure and grain and one for general 

 farming, and two 2-year rotations for pasturing hogs, accompanied by a table 

 to serve as a practical guide during the establishment of the 5-year general 

 farming rotation. 



The applications of electricity to agriculture, T. T. Bakee (Jour. Roy. Soc. 

 Arts, 62 (1913), No. 3186, pp. 70-78, figs. 2; abs. in Jour. Soc. CJiem. Indus., 

 33 (1914), ^'0. 1, p. 35). — An account is given of the application of high-tension 

 electric currents to soil by means of overhead wires (particularly the Lodge- 

 Newman system) for the purpose of increasing the yield of crops. 



Reference is also made to experiments with waste material from radium 

 manufacture mixed with the soil. It is stated that " good results have been 

 obtained by mixing 1 part of radio-active material (2 mg, Ra per ton) with 10 

 of soil; with considerably larger quantities the yield was diminished and 

 growth retarded. Some crops were benefited to a much greater degree than 

 others. Good results have been obtained with radishes and wheat, but much 

 less marked improvement with cress; in the case of radishes the sugar content 

 also was markedly increased." 



The relation of fertilizers to soil fertility, F. B. Gutiibie (Dept. Agr. N. 8. 

 Wales, Sci. Bui. 9 (1913), pp. 5//).-^This is a short survey of present views on 

 the subject, including especially summaries of the results of investigations 

 relating to toxic substances in soils, sick soils, and catalytic fertilizers. A rather 

 full bibliography of literature relating to catalytic fertilizers is given. 



The use of commercial fertilizers, J. F. Babker (yeio York State Sta. Circ. 

 26 (1914), PP- ^^^- — This circular presents in a popular way certain well 

 established facts regarding the elements required for plant growth, the compo- 

 yition of the soil as related to the use of fertilizers, the teachings of the more 

 carefully planned and conducted experiments with fertilizers which have been 

 made in this country, and the home mixing of fertilizers. 



