318 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



closely fitted. The bottom of this box was perforated with holes 1 mm. in 

 diameter and was in contact with water which was kept at a height of 5 cm. 

 in the reservoir. "Weighings were made three times a day. 



The apparatus was designed with a view to imitating as closely as possible 

 natural conditions, and the observations with it showed a much lower rate of 

 evaporation than that indicated by Wild's evaporimeter. Furthermore, there 

 was no regularity in the variations between the two sets of observations. The 

 observations indicate that under natural conditions the evaporation was greater 

 than precipitation during the summer. 



Observations were made by the same method on bare soils and on soils 

 planted to oats. These showed a wide variation in the evaporation under 

 different methods of handling the soil. The author expresses the opinion that 

 the apparatus used gives reliable and comparable data on evaporation, malcing 

 it possible to determine the water actually used by plants and that remaining in 

 the soil. 



The functions, availability, and conservation of soil moisture in crop 

 production, F. H. King {Rj)t. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Set., 1D09, pp. 113, 7i4).— This 

 article discusses the amount of water required to produce a unit of dry matter 

 in crops, the physical conditions affecting the availability of the soil water 

 for crop uses, and soil mulches for conserving the moisture of the soil. 



" The author recommended growing cereals in strips 2 ft. wide, leaving 2 ft. 

 as cultivated fallow between the strips. In the following year the strips are 

 alternated, so what is now fallow will next year be cultivated, and vice versa. 

 He considers this better than the usual arrangement of leaving the whole field 

 fallow in alternate years." 



See also a previous note (E. S. R., 22, p. 124). 



Moisture studies of semiarid soils, F. J. Alway {Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. 

 8ci., 1909, pp. 698, 699). — This is a summary of investigations which have been 

 noted from another source (E. S. R., 20, p. 714). 



Results of irrig'ation of szek (alkali) soil meadows, K. Roszler, Jr. 

 {KisMet. Kiklem., IS {1910), No. J,, pp. J,2S-U6).^The character of the szek 

 or alkali soils of the Hungarian Alfold (E. S. R., 20, p. 818) is described and 

 experiments are reported which showed that irrigation in connection with fer- 

 tilizing with phosphates and nitrates greatly increased the yield of hay on a 

 field of such soil. Harrowing in the spring, however, decreased the yield. 



Shallow versus deep cultivation on sandy soils, Biederstedt (Illus. Landiv. 

 Ztg., 30 (1910), No. 75, pp. 707, 708).— Two fields of sandy soils were cultivated, 

 one to a depth of 4 in., the other to a depth of 7 in., and planted to lupines, rye, 

 and potatoes during the three years of the investigation. Both fields received 

 the same application of kainit, Thomas slag, and barnyard manure during the 

 first, second, and third years, respectively. 



The deeply cultivated soil gave decidedly greater yields than shallow culti- 

 vation in all cases. A noteworthy point bi'ought out in the investigation was 

 the drought-resisting ability of the rye on the deeply cultivated soil during the 

 season of 1904, Thomas slag being used as fertilizer. 



The nitrifying energy of soils, its determination and importance in soil 

 fertility, Vogel (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 59 (1910), No. 18, pp. 626-636, fig. i).— 

 This article reviews recent investigations bearing on this subject and reports 

 laboratory experiments on the rate of nitrification of horn meal in soil (5 gm. 

 of meal to 500 gm. of soil) and in field experiments with different kinds of soils 

 treated in various ways. The rate of nitrification varied widely with the time 

 of year, being highest in October and November, then falling steadily until 

 April, when it rose again but not so high as in the autumn. 



