284 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



cent of humus and c^ontaininp; 1.5 mg. of nitric nitroojen per 100 gm. of soil there was 

 found after U) days 1 4 injj;. , after .'>() (hiys 25.5 nifr. , and after 7.S days 28 nig. 1 n the soil 

 with 3.55 per cent of humus containing 0.5 mg. of nitrate nitrogen there was found 

 after the same lengths of time 21, 38.5, 50.5, and 53 mg. per 100 gm. of soil. — p. 



FIREMAN. 



Influence of protecting forest strips on the moisture of the soil of the sur- 

 rounding- area ( TVdrfj. Opuitn. Lyesn., 1902, No. 1; abs. in Zhitr. Opniltt. Afjron. 

 {.hiiir. Expt. L<mdw.'\, 4 {1902), No. 2, pp. 24S, ;?^5).— Observations on the area 

 between 2 forest strips were carried out during 8 years, from 1899 to 1901. For 

 the determination of the moisture, samples were taken at different depths from 10 to 

 600 cm. in the middle of the strips, and at distances of 14, 35, 70, 140, and 665 ft. 

 from them. On the basis of a large number of determinations, the author arrives 

 at these tentative conclusions: 



(1) Protecting strips at the age of 6 to 8 years have a positive influence on the 

 increase of the moisture of the soil and subsoil of the adjoining field at a distance not 

 exceeding 70 ft. (2) This influence is the strongest in the spring after the thawing 

 of the snow, is still perceptible in the dry period of the summer, and gradually 

 weakens toward the fall. (3) The influence of the protecting strips on the increase 

 of the humidity of the adjoining field is explained by the snow-accumulating capacity 

 of the strij)s, in consequence of which a heavy snow cover is retained not only inside 

 the strips, but also along their borders to a distance of about 70 ft. — p. fireman. 



Soil, cultivation, and irrigation, W.Maxwell (QMef?i.s/rtHd A gr. Jour., 12 {1903) , 

 No. 6, pp. 384-397) . — A general discussion with special reference to Queensland con- 

 ditions. 



Crops used in the reclamation of alkali lands in Egypt, T. H. Kearney and 

 T. H. Means ( U. S. Dept. Ayr. Yearbook 1902, ptp. 673-58S, j>h. 4,. figs. ;^).— Notes are 

 given on the climate, soils, irrigation work and methods, methods of reclaiming 

 alkali, and crops used in the process of reclamation in Egypt. The latter include 

 barnyard grass {Panimm crus-galli), sorghum, rice, samar {Cyperus laevigatiis), ber- 

 seem or Egyptian clover, and cotton. "Of the crops used for the specific purpose of 

 aiding in reclaiming alkali lands in Egypt, probably only two, sorghum and berseem, 

 will be found practically useful in tiie United States." 



FERTILIZERS. 



Influence of applications of straw on the yield, D. N. Pryanishnikov ( Vyestnik 

 Sel'tk. KJioz., 1903, No. 52, pp.3, 4; <'bs. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. {^Jour. Expt Landw.'\, 

 4 {1903), No 1, p S9). — Finely cut straw was mixed with soil in pots at rates of }, h 

 and 1 per cent of the weight of the soil taken (4.5 kg.). The yields of barley and 

 oats obtained decreased uniformly with the increase of straw applied. — p. fireman. 



Gypsum as a means of fixing ammonia in the decomposition of manure, 

 S. A. Severin {Syesd. Dyeat. Selsk. Klioz. Opuitn. Dyelu., St. Petersburg, 1902, Dec, pt. 

 1, pp. 124-132; abs. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. \_Jour. Exp)t. Landw.], 4 {1903), No. 1, pp. 

 88, 89). — In laboratory experiments by the autlior with unsterilized and sterilized 

 manure (inoculating in the latter case with pure cultures of organisms capable of 

 inducing ammoniacal fermentation as well as with a water extract of manure) the 

 addition of 4 per cent gypsum to the manure intensified the decomposition of the 

 manure 10 to 20 per cent, and at the same time jireserved the manure from the loss of 

 ammoniacal nitrogen. — p. fireman. 



Fertilizing with sulphate of ammonia and organic nitrogen in comparison 

 with nitrate of soda, P. Wagner et al. {Arb. Dent. Landw. GeselL, 1903, No. SO, pp. 

 340). — This is a detailed account of pot and field experiments made at the Darmstadt 

 station and on a uniform plan by a number of cooperatihg experiment stations in 

 different parts of Germany. The nitrogenous fertilizers employed included nitrate 



