214 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



deposition, inclucling effects of constantly rainy, intermittently rainy, semiarid, 

 and arid climates, and the climatic significance of color ; effects of stream 

 transportation; relations of stable climates to transportation; and effects of 

 varying climates upon transportiition. 



It is shown quite clearly in this discussion that climate is a controlling factor 

 in determining not only quantity but physical and chemical nature of terres- 

 trial deposits, and that the intiuence of this factor is exerted not only in the 

 weathering of rocks and the original formation of the sediments, but in their 

 transportation and deposition. 



It is stated that " varying powers of erosion and transportation giving rise 

 to varying quality and quantity of sediment are seen to be the most delicate 

 stratigraphic indicators of climatic fluctuations. On the other hand the chem- 

 ical and organic conditions accompanying the deposition of the sediment upon 

 the delta plain are more secure indicators of the stable and average climatic 

 conditions under which the formation as a whole was made." 



The fertility of some colonial soils, as influenced by geolog'ical conditions, 

 C. F. JuRiTz (Seixiratc from Trans. 80. African Phil. Soc, 18 (1907), pt. 1, pp. 

 7-30). — This is substantially a revised and extended reprint of an article 

 which has already been noted (E. S. R., 19, p. 15). 



The loss of water from soil during dry weather, J. W. Leather (ilein. Dept. 

 Agr. India, Chem. Ser., 1 (1908), No. 6, pp. 75-116, pis. 5, fig. i).— Determinations 

 of the water content to a depth of 9 ft. in fallow soil with loose surface are 

 recorded in this paper. Samples of the soil were examined at stated intervals 

 from March, 1906, to May, 1907. 



The more important conclusions drawn from the investigations are that 

 during a dry period water moves upward toward the surface from a limited 

 depth only, the maximum depth in the Pusa soil experimented with being 

 slightly over 3 ft. during the whole period of observation. Water is lost from 

 the soil at a rate dependent upon the amount present. That is, it follows the 

 " compound interest law." Therefore, the I'ate of loss is much greater imme- 

 diately after rain than subsequently. " The water-retaining power of a soil 

 after drainage has ceased is closely related to the total surface possessed by 

 the solid particles, and it is probable that from a determination of the latter 

 the water-holding capacity of soils may be ascertained." 



The upland moor as a water distributor, K. Gangnus and P. Rosenstand- 

 WoLDiKE (Mitt. Liv-Estldnd. Bur. Landeskult., Jahrb. 1906-7, pp. -'i2-5Jf, 67- 

 76). — These articles discuss mainly the question whether the water conditions 

 in upland moors are to any considerable extent influenced or controlled by 

 excessive condensation of dew by the moor mosses. 



Report on irrigation dry farming and soil moisture investigations, E. Nel- 

 son (Idaho 8ia. Rpt. 1907, pp. 2S-.'i6). — This is a report of investigations made 

 during 1907 on the Boise-Payette reclamation project at Caldwell, Idaho, in 

 cooperation with this Office. 



The investigations included studies of the duty of water on wheat, potatoes, 

 and alfalfa, using pumped water. Moisture determinations were made to 

 determine the effect of the different irrigations on the moisture content of the 

 soil and losses by evaporation. These show that " the soil has a maximum 

 moisture capacity of o2.S4 per cent of the dry weight. Twenty-four hours after 

 irrigation it rarely contained as much as 28 per cent in the first foot. The 

 extent to which it may dry out ranged from 3.9 to 7.3 per cent in the first foot. 

 In the second and third foot there was rarely as little as 8.7 per cent. At 

 planting time the soil contained an average of about 7.95 per cent of available 

 water or a total of 3.82 in. in 3 ft. of soil. The tests indicate that this is very 

 close to the average amount of available water that the soil may contain. In a 



