90IL8 FEBTILIZEB8. 1 19 



reviews the geological history of the region of France, and describes in detail the 

 general geological formations found in thai region. 



Study of Belgian soils i Bui. Agr. \ Brussels], .'/ I 1905 . No. /. pp. 85 121 |. This 

 is an account of conferences al which the following features of soil investigation in 

 Belgium were discussed: Pot experiments with plant-, physico-chemical analysis of 

 Boils, climatological observations, observations on natural flora, and organization of the 

 soil studies. 



On the composition of the moor soils of Jonkoping County, R. Tolb I v 

 Mosskulturfdr. Tidskr., 19(1905), No. ?, pp. 145 /;/ , 



An apple orchard survey of Wayne County, New York. II, Geology, \V. I ■'.. 

 McCoi i:i New York Cornell Sta. />'"/. 226, pp. 868- $10, figs. 58). —A detailed examin- 

 ation was made of the geology of Wayne County, New York; its geological history is 

 given, and a description of the different Boil types. 



The control of soil moisture, V. T. Sin ii ami W. S. Blair (Canada Expt. 

 Farms Rpts. /.'">;, pp. 157-164, 859-861). The experiments here reported were a 

 continuation of those of previous years • E. S. R., L6, p. 240) and were designed to 

 ascertain I l I the effect of cultivation and mulching on soil moisture arid (2 the 

 relative amounts of \\ ater withdrawn from the soil by crops grow o in different way-. 



In the first series of experiments the crops made p ■ growth and the results were 



somewhat inconclusive; in the second the results " clearly indicate that much mois- 

 ture may be saved by sowing the crops in drills and cultivating between the rows 

 from time to time throughout the summer months." In a series of experiments at 



Nappan to determine the effect of different cover crop.- on the moisture content of 

 orchard soil the result- indicate that trees may he injured by exhaustion of the water 

 supply in the -nil by a growing crop of grain such as rye. 



The absorption of water by clay, J. M. van Bemmelen I Ztschr. Anorgan. Chem., 

 42 (190-h, No. 8, pp. 814-824). — Studies of the amount of water absorbed at 15° C. 

 under varying pressures by -oils which had been dried at 100° C. are reported, show- 

 ing that the process of absorption is reversible, it being possible to repeat hydration 

 and dehydration a- often a- desired. Tin' rate at which absorbed water was expelled 

 was not essentially different from the rate at which water itself evaporated under 

 similar conditions. 



The use of coloring- matters in soil investigations, B. Sjollem \ (Jour. Landw., 

 ■'>.: (1905), No. j, /,;,. 67-69). — It is shown how the fact that coloring matters, such 

 a- Congo red, alizarin, fuchsin, methyl violet, methyl blue, etc.. form colored com- 

 pounds with the colloidal substances <>f soil- may he utilized in the microscopic 

 examination of soils to distinguish between these substances and the quartz ami 

 other mineral constituents which are not colored. 



The isolation of colloidal substances in soils, I'.. Sjollema (Jour. Landw., 58 

 . No. /, fif,. yo-76).— k further study of the author's centrifugal method | E. 

 s. l;., 7. p. 752) with subsequent chemical and microscopic i with methyl violet col- 

 oration) examination of the separated products is reported. 



Field trials of the Swedish Moor Culture Association, 1904, 11. vom I-Y.ii n- 

 Svenska Mossku(turfor. Tidskr., 90 (1905), No. ?, pp. - Reports of 



experiments at different moor plantation- with regard to the best mechanical treat- 

 ment and system of fertilization of moor soils for culture of small grains, Legumes, 

 hay, and r< tot crops. 



Some questions relating to soil culture, A. Abnstadt i Fuhling's Landw. Ztg., 

 f4(1905), No. 6, />/,. 215-219). A general discussion of means of improving the 

 physical condition of soils. 



The action of ammoniacal salts on nitrification of sodium nitrite by the 

 nitric ferment, E. Boull anger and L. Massol (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 

 140 (1905), No. 10, pp. 687-689). — Studies were made in the Winogradski and Omeli- 



