428 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the time and anumnt of water required is probably luueh greater than in the 

 case of 'white allcali.'" 



The results of the experiments with these soils also " indicate that the use 

 of gypsum facilitates the removal of black alkali from soil, although at the 

 same time it adds to the total quantity of alkali present." 



Seven years' soil investig'ation in southern Illinois, C. G. Hopkins, J. H. 

 Pettit, and J. E. Keadiiimer UJlinois »S7o. Circ. 122, pp. .'/). — The results of ex- 

 periments with various methods of improving the soil are briefly summarized. 



The maintenance of fertility (Ohio .S7«. Bui. IS.'/, pp. 22t)-.i05). — This bul- 

 letin contains in full data previously reported in Bulletins 110, 182, and 1S3 of 

 the station (E. S. R., 12, p. 127; 19, pp. 315, 720) covering statistics of field ex- 

 periments on this subject from 1894 to 1906 inclusive. 



Plans and summary tables of the experiments at the central farm, 

 Wooster, on the maintenance of soil fertility arranged for reference in the 

 field {Ohio Sta. Circ. 83, pp. 2.'f, dgms. 6). — A brief summary and explanation 

 of experiments in continuation of those previously noted (see above), giving 

 data for the season of 1907. 



Farmyard manure, A. D. Hall {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 15 {1908), Ao«. 1, 

 pp. 7-21; 3, pp. 161-176). — This is a discussion of the losses during making and 

 storage of manure and its value as a fertilizer, based upon practical observa- 

 tions and investigations at Rothamsted and elsewhere. The economy of manur- 

 ing and of the supplemental use of commercial fertilizers under various condi- 

 tions of British farming receives particular attention. 



Contribution to the knowledge of the microflora of barnyard manure, F. 

 LoHNis and W. Kuxtze {Centbl. Bult. [c/e.]. 2. Abt., 20 {1908), No. 21-23, pp. 

 676-687). — Investigations as to the number, character, and activity of various 

 organisms found in manure are reported. 



Green manuring experiments, A. Zimmermann {Pflanzer, 3 {1907), No. 10, 

 pp. 152-156; .'/ {1908), No. S, pp. 33-36). — Experiments with lupines, Japan 

 clover, and a number of native plants, including species of Crotalaria, Des- 

 modium, Melilotus, and Indigofera, are reported. Of the less common plants 

 tested certain of the Crotalaria and Desmodium gave good results as green 

 manures. The Crotalaria, however, was worthless as a feed, while the Des- 

 modium apiiarently possessed considerable value for this purpose. 



The nitrogen question, A. Gregoire {Rev. Econ. Internat., 5 {1908), II, No. 2, 

 pp. 431-41/6). — This article discusses the various sources of nitrogen for agri- 

 cultural purposes and urges especially the more careful utilization of the nitro- 

 gen supplies of the farm. 



Experiments with nitrogenous fertilizers!. C. Schreiber {Rev. Gen. Agroiu, 

 n. scr., 3 {1908). Nos. 3, pp. 97-105, fig. 1; ',, pp. 145-153, figs. 3).— The fertiliz- 

 ing values of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and calcium cyanamid on 

 oats, corn, and carrots grown in pots containing 6 kg. of loam soil are reported. 



In these experiments the average fertilizing effect of the sulphate of am- 

 monia was 77.8 per cent of that of nitrate of soda in experiments in which 

 calcium carbonate was not used, and 81.5 per cent in experiments in which 

 calcium carbonate was applied. The addition of calcium carbonate was bene- 

 ficial even in case of soils containing a sufflceut amount of lime. The results 

 obtained with sulphate of ammonia were much higher in this series of experi- 

 ments than in an earlier series, due to the fact that the climatic conditions 

 were more favorable, sulphate of ammonia being much more sensitive to such 

 conditions than nitrate of soda. 



The average fertilizing effect of the calcium cyanamid was 69.7 per cent of 

 that of nitrate of soda when calcium carbonate was not used and 67.7 per cent 



