SOILS — FERTILIZERS. 315 



pp. 770-772). — An improved apparatus giving more thorough action of the 

 ultraviolet light on water is described. It is stated that with this apparatus 

 perfect sterilization was accomplished at an expenditure of 20 watts per cubic 

 meter of water. 



The results of sterilization experiments on the Cambridge water, G. S. 

 WooDHEAD {Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc, 15 {1910), No. 6, pp. 559-573).— Ihe 

 successful use of bleaching powder for the sterilization of the water is dis- 

 cussed, and a method in which complete sterilization was obtained without 

 the necessity of using sodium bisulphite to destroy the escess of chlorin is 

 described. 



Agricultural utilization of the sewage waters of Strassburg, C. Clodot 

 (Monatsber. Gesell. Ford. Wiss. Aclcerb. u. Eilnste Unter-Elsass, 44 (1910), 

 No. 2, pp. 109-127). — The experience of other cities in disposing of sewage by 

 using it for agricultural purposes is described, and the applicability of this 

 method of disposal to the city of Strassburg is discussed. The great obstacle 

 in the way of the use of methods of sewage irrigation is stated to be the 

 difficulty of securing a sufficient area of suitable land for the purpose. 



SOILS— FERTILIZERS. 



Chemical characteristics of western prairie soil, F. T. Shutt (Rpt. Brit. 

 Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1909, pp. 708-710). — As a result of analyses of 200 samples 

 of soil collected from different parts of the Great Plains region of Canada it 

 is stated " that the essential and distinguishing feature of the western prairie 

 soils is their high organic matter and nitrogen content. . . . They contain for 

 the most part fairly abundant stores of phosphoric acid, potash, and lime." 



The nitrogen content of the Manitoba soils examined ranged from 0.2 to 1 

 per cent, of Saskatchewan soils from 0.2 to 0.5 per cent, and of Alberta soils 

 from 0.3 to 0.5 per cent. As a rule, however, the percentage of nitrogen de- 

 creased toward the westward, indicating a direct relation between the rainfall 

 and the amount of nitrogen accumulated in virgin prairie soil. The water- 

 holding capacity of these soils, rich in humus, is very large. The system of 

 grain growing now in practice on some of the lands results in a large loss of 

 nitrogen annually. 



On the petrographic and soil conditions of the red sandstone (buntersand- 

 stein) formations in Germany. E. P>lanck (Jahrcsh. Ver. Vaterldnd. Naturk. 

 Wiirttemb., 66 {1910), pp. /iOS-506). — Following a general resume of the sig- 

 nificance of geological formations in the study and classification of soils, the 

 author reports extended data on the red sandstone formations of Germany. 

 A general discussion of the geological formations of the soil is given, and 

 mechanical and chemical analyses are reported. 



The characteristics of " schlier " soils, H. Gruneb (Landw. Jahrb., 39 

 {1910), No. Jt-5, pp. 613-622). — This article reports the results of mechanical, 

 physical, and chemical studies of " schlier " soils from St. Martin, Haag, 

 Sigharting, and Kirchberg, Austria, and of loess soils from Passau and Meissen, 

 Saxony. In general the term " schlier " signifies types of soil, of varying 

 geological formation, which readily wash or slide on account of their fine sandy, 

 clayey, or marly nature. 



As compared with analyses made in 185S the St. Martin soil of the present 

 time shows a higher calcium, magnesium, and potassium content, whereas the 

 phosphorus, nitrogen, and humus content is somewhat lower. 



The origin of the " wattpolder " soils of the North Sea coasts, Mansholt 

 (Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesell., 24 (1909), Nos. 1, pp. 7, 8; 2, pp. 20-25, fig. 1; 

 25 (1910), No. J^l, pp. 598-601, fig. 1). — These articles present a new theory 

 regarding the source of the " schlick " (clay) particles of the beach polders 



