WATER SOILS. 23 



ive method. In the experiments reported the drains were laid 80 inches deep and 

 about 35 feet apart, at a cost of $30 per acre. 



The results in Egypt are held to warrant the conclusion that reclamation by 

 drainage is entirely practicable and can be done at so low a cost "that much of the 

 land of the West now lying idle on account of alkali or seepage water can be made 

 to produce crops in from 1 to 3 years, with an expenditure much below the value 

 value of the land when reclaimed." The use of tile drains is consitlered the roost 

 practicable method. 



Humus soil, W. P. Gamble ( Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Far)ii Rpt. 1902, pp. 

 52,53). — The importance of humus as a soil constituent and of methods of deter- 

 mining it are discussed. The following modification of the official method for deter- 

 mining nitrogen in soils is recommended: "In digesting, use only 3 gms. of the soil. 

 Start with a very low flame, and allow the contents of the flask to heat for about 15 

 minutes. At the end of that time the danger of frothing is over, and the flame may 

 be raised. Just raise it, however, so that the tip will barely touch the flask. Allow 

 it to boil until the liquid is clear, or of a light straw color. Thirty cc. of concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid is all the acid needed in this digestion, and should be added to 

 the flask at the beginning. A little pumice stone will reduce the bumping. Take 

 care not to add any water before or during the operation. ' ' 



The following method for determining moisture in humus soils is described : ' ' Use 

 10 gms. of the soil. Weigh on a tared porcelain dish or watch glass (6 cm. in 

 diameter). Place for 10 hours in a water oven, and k»eep it at the temperature of 

 boiling water; also keep a constant stream of carbon dioxid passing through the 

 oven." 



Methods of maintaining' the productive capacity of soils, C. G. Hopkins {lUi- 

 nois iSta. Circ. 68, pp. 40). — This is an address delivered before the lllincjis State 

 Farmers' Institute at Bloomington, February 25, 1903, in which the following five 

 rules for maintaining the fertility of the soil are given and discussed: 



(1) If the soil is acid or sour, apply lime to it to make it sweet; (2) if the soil is 

 poor in nitrogen only, grow clover or some other legume which has the power to 

 secure nitrogen from the air; (3) if the soil is poor in phosphorus only, apply bone 

 meal or some other form of phosphorus; (4) if the soil is poor in potassium only, 

 apply potassium chlorid or some other form of potassium; (5) always save and use 

 all the barnyard manure you have, and also all you can economically obtain from 

 others, and make liberal use of green manures when necessary to maintain the supply 

 of organic matter in the soil. 



The role of the plant in dissolving- the plant food of the soil, P. KossovicH 

 {Ann. Sri Agron., 1902-3, I, No. 2, pp. 220-24-5, figs. 6).— See E. S. R., 14, p. 427. 



Soil temperatures for the year 1901, J. E. Bonebright {Idaho Sla. Bui. 35, 

 pj). 134, 135). — Weeklyobservationsatdifferentdepthsat Moscow, Idaho, are reported. 



Soil temperatures, C. H. McLeod {Proc. and Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, 2. ser., 7 

 {1901), III, pi>. 13-lG, ])ls. 3). 



Subsoil temperatures, J. B. Reynolds {Ontario Agr. CoL and Expt. Farm Rpt. 

 1902, pp. 11-13, figs. 2). — Curves show temperatures at depths of 1, 2, and 3 ft. 

 during the growing seasons of 1901 and 1902, accompanied by data for air tempera- 

 ture and rainfall during the same i:)eriod. 



Characterization of the soil according to certain representative species of 

 the animal kingdom, V. P. Vraiji {Selsk. Khoz. i Lyesov, 208 {1903), Mar., pp. 680- 

 690). — The author I'eviews the literature of observations which point to the fact that 

 the presence of certain species of animals indicate soils of certain types and proper- 

 ties, and gives a table in Mdiich this idea is worked out in detail. — v. fireman. 



The new soil science, R. II. Wallace and W. Dyke {Jour. Roy. Ilort. Soc, 27 

 {1902), No. 1, pp. 70-85). — The term "new soil science " is here used " to denote the 



J:<;78— No. 1—08 3 



