618 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



aeveloimieiit of agronomic oliarts and discusses their practical value, and reports 

 detailed studies of the topography, geology, hydrology, and composition and 

 structure of soils of a large Belgian estate. The practical application of the 

 results of this study in the culture and management of the estate are also 

 discussed. A strtnig plea is made for the more extended pi-eparation and use 

 of such surveys. 



Agronomic charts, E. Leplae {Rcr. Gen. Agroii.. n. .scr., S {1008), No. 6-7, 

 pp. 252-26]). — This is a discussion of the agricultural value of such chai'ts in 

 reply to the article by Gregoire and Halet noted above. 



The agronomic chart of Belgium and analyses of soils, E. Leplae {Rev. 

 Gen. Agron., ii. ser., 3 (J908), Xo. .'>, pp. /.'^.;-..^/7 ).— The author calls attention 

 particularly to the great diversity of methods which have been proposed and 

 are used for the charting of soils and for their physical and chemical examina- 

 tion, and urges the importance of systematic inquiry with reference to tlic 

 adoption of uniform methods. 



Agronoraic charts, A. Gregoire and F. Halet {Ann. Gembloux, 18 {1908), 

 No. 7', pp. 395--'i()2). — The authors take exception to the conclusion of Leplae 

 that it is not feasible to prepare agricultural charts of Belgium which are of 

 special practical value. 



Agronomic charts, A. Proost {Rev. Gen. Agron., n. sen, 3 {1908), No. 9, 

 pp. 3Ji6-3.'i9 ) . — This is a reply to Leplae's criticisms noted above. 



The study of soils {Rev. Gen. Agron., n. ser., 3 {1908), No. 9, pp. 3.'i9-351).— 

 A furthei- discussion of the utility of agronomic charts or soil maps. 



Agrological studies, L. A. Rebello da Silva {Rer. Agron. [Portugal], 5 

 {1901), Nos. 11, pp. 333-331; 12, pp. 365-311; 6 {1908), No. 1, pp. 5-9).— A 

 classilicatiou including 5 groups is described, with mechanical analyses by 

 Schone's method of 13 samples of Portuguese soils. 



The use of geo-agrological maps in the assessment of taxes in the valleys 

 and plains of the Province of Verona, E. Xicolis {Atti. e Mem. Aeead. Agr. 

 [etc.] Verona. '/. ser., 7 {1907), pp. 123-213. map. 7).— Such a map is given and 

 its preparation and use explained. 



Analyses of soils from Papua, F. B. Guthrie and U. S. Symmonds (Agr. 

 Gaz. N. .S. ^Vnh^><. 19 {1908), No. ff. pp. 326, ^27).— Physical and chemical 

 analyses of 12 samples of soils from this region are reported. These show that 

 the soils are as a rule very fertile loam. Only one sample was found to be 

 iicid. In all other cases the soils were abundantly supplied with lime. The 

 soils were as a rule well supplied with nitrogen and phosphates, but were 

 invariably low in potash. 



Soil analysis as applied to forestry, Vatfr {Tharand. Forstl. Jahrh., 58 

 {1908), No. 1. pp. 1-20). — This is a general discussion of the importance of soil 

 analysis as applied to forestry. 



A study relative to the causes of the dying out of artificial forest plant- 

 ings in the steppes, 8. Kravkov {Zlnir. Opiiiin. Agron. [Ru-ss. Jour. E.ipt. 

 Lanilio.], 9 {1908), No. 1, pp. 96-118).— Ah a result of a preliminary investiga- 

 tion made in 1906 and 1907 in the experimental forest of Yeliko-Auadol, the 

 author concludes that the generally accepted hypothesis that the high salt con- 

 tent of the steppe soil is the chief cause of the failure of artificial forest plant- 

 ings is not confirmed. He is led to believe that the trees may die at a certain 

 age through lack of sufficient assimilable phosphoric acid and nitrogen, and in 

 some cases of potash. These constituents are sometimes completely absent in 

 assimilable form in the deep soil layers as the result of depletion by forests 

 already established. 



This dying out is observed only in those places in the stepi^e forest region 

 where, owing to the peculiar surface formation, definite physical properties of 



