22 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



"On the other hand, it can hardly be doubted that there is what we might 

 call a positive calcareous factor, so specially associated are certain plants 

 with soils rich in carbonate of lime, and so entirely are they absent from other 

 soils which are perfectly neutral, but which contain only a small proportion 

 of carbonate of lime." Nevertheless, in experiments at Woburn and Roth- 

 amsted it was found that certain typical lime-heating leguminous plants grew 

 equally well on sand containing practically no carbonate of lime and on soil 

 that was well stocked with lime. Analysis showed the ashes of the plants 

 grown at the two places to contain similar amounts of lime. The lime there- 

 fore appears to be a positive and not a negative factor especially favoring the 

 growth of certain plants at the expense of others. 



Reference is made to observations indicating the possibility of bringing about 

 teratological changes by adding particular constituents, as for example, zinc, 

 to soils. 



Contribution to the question of the nitrogen balance, V. Viner (Otchet 

 Shutilov. Selsk. Khoz. Opuitn. Santzil, J, {1909), pt. 2, pp. U-63 ; abs. in Zhur. 

 Opuitn. Agron. (Russ Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 (1910). No. 1, p. 83). — In the 

 atmospheric precipitations the soil received during the growing period about 

 6.68 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. In the run-off the nitrogen content was very high, 

 indicating a loss of nitrogen compounds from the upper layer of the soil. In 

 well water the nitrogen content was also large, from 5 to 15 mg. per liter, in- 

 creasing in the autumn months and decreasing in the winter. In river water 

 minima of nitrogen were observed in both the winter and summer months and a 

 maximum in the spring, the mean being about 2 mg. per liter. 



In the soil the nitrogen content fluctuated from 60 to 160 mg. per 1,000 gm. 

 of dry soil, the influence of cultivated plants not being clearly defined. It was 

 observed, however, that on the fallow during the summer the increase of nitro- 

 gen in the tilled layer was considerable (from 173 to 327 mg.). The influence of 

 manure was indicated by an increase to 84 mg. On clover fields the increase 

 during 3 years rose to 115 mg. The total increase of nitrogen in the cultivation 

 of clover, determined by the analysis of the root residues, amounted toward the 

 end of the first year to about 36.47 lbs. per acre, and toward the end of the sec- 

 ond year to 58.51 lbs. per acre. The determination of the assimilable nitrogen 

 by means of pot experiments gave approximately the same figures as in the 

 field. The author concludes that the soil of the station does not require a 

 nitrogen fertilizer if the proper conditions are maintained. 



Progress and present status of the knowledge of fertilizers, H. Immen- 

 DOKFF {Mitt. OkO)ioin. GcseU. Sacliscii, 1909-10, pp. 89-105). — This is a review 

 of the more important advances in knowledge of soil fertility and its mainte- 

 nance by means of manures, fertilizers, and soil bacteria, containing a brief 

 critical discussion of the more important theories of soil fertility, including that 

 of the Bureau of Soils of this Department. 



Fertilizers and fertilizing, M. Hoffmann (Jahresber. Landw., 24 (1909), 

 pp. 50-81). — Recent investigations on this subject are classified and reviewed. 



Fertilizer experiments as a means of determining the productiveness of 

 soils, A, Stutzer (Mitt. Dent. Landiv. Gesell., 25 (1910), No. 38, pp. 560-.562).— 

 Flans for fertilizer experiments to determine the productiveness of soils, espe- 

 cially for winter cereals and grass, are described. 



Fundamental questions of fertilizing on chernozem, S. L. Frankfurt 

 (Dnevn. XII. 8"iezda Ross. Est.-Isp. i Vrach., No. 5, p. 196; abs. in Zhur. 

 Opuitn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt, Landw.), 11 (1910). No. 1, pp. 105, 106). — 

 Field tests made on chernozem soils in a number of different districts showed 

 that manure had considerable effect on the yield of winter wheat and especially 



