SOILS FERTILIZERS. 745 



The influence of a constant weak electric current on the solubility of the 



nitrogen and the phosphoric acid of the soil, M. Yi. ;<>\ [Zhur. Opuiln. Agron. 



i Rus8. Jour. Expt. Landvu I, 6 I 1905 I, No. S, pp. S15 I Experiments are reported 

 in which a LOO voltage currenl varying from 0.002 to 0.23 ampere in differenl cases 

 was passed through chernozem and clay soils contained in glass boxes and the effect 

 on the Bolubility of the soil constituents was observed. 



It was found thai by this treatmenl the phosphoric a. id soluble in citric acid was 

 increased almost LOO percent. The nitrate nitrogen was decreased in about the same 

 proportion. The ammonia nitrogen, however, was increased 3 to 5 times, bo that there 

 was a considerable average increase in total soluble nitrogen, this increase evidently 

 taking place at the expense of the insoluble organic compounds, r. i [reman. 



Hygroscopicity, heat evolved on moistening ( Benetzungswarme i, and 

 mechanical analysis of soils, A. Mitschbruch I Fahling's Landw. Ztg., 54 I 19 



No. 20, />/>. 678-675 |. -The informati jontained in this article is condensed from the 



author's Treatise on Soils for Farmers and Foresters, published by Paul Parey, Ber- 

 lin, L905. The terms used arc defined, and their relations to each other and to plant 

 growth are briefly discussed. 



It is stated that hygroscopic moisture and the heat evolved on moistening soils are 

 of no importance from the standpoint of plant growth. Wbllny's classification of 

 soilpartif.es is given and the comparative value of mechanical analysis, hygrosco- 

 picity and heat evolved on moistening as mean- of judging of the character of Boils 

 is discussed The author is of the opinion that mechanical analysis may be replaced 

 for this purpose with advantage by the determination of the heat evolved on mois- 

 tening, or preferably by determination of hygroscopicity. 



The soil and the subsoil of the Veliko-Anadolsk forest as one of the causes 

 of the decay of forest plantations, N. N. Stepanov i Zhur. Opuitn, Agron. | Russ. 

 Jour. Expt. Landw. I, 6 I 1905), No. 3, pp. 257-299). — The investigations here reported 

 were made on an artificial forest plantation in the stepj.es region of southern Russia 

 on lands which were formerly treeless and which have soils rich in Boluble con- 

 stituents (alkali), studies of the soil and subsoil were made in places where trees 

 were growing vigorously and in places where the tree- had failed to grow. 



The results show quite clearly that the failure of the trees to grow was due to 

 excess of soluble salts (especially sodium carbonate i in the upper layers of the soil. 

 The formation of calcareous hardpan in the subsoil had also in some cases brougb.1 

 about conditions unfavorable to tree growth. The lack of uniformity in tree growth 

 on these soils is said to be due to irregularity in concentration of the soluble Baits in 

 the surface soil, varying with the topography of the land and the character of the 

 Beason. The occurrence of gypsum in the soils at short distances from the surface 

 indicates that they have not been sufficiently Leached for the successful growth of 

 trees, although gypsum itself is not an injurious salt and tends to improve the 

 mechanical and moisture conditions of the soil. 



In conclusion the author urges the importance of carefully examining such soils 

 before foresl planting is attempted, as well as the use of Beeds produced on the Boils 

 of Bpecies which are known to be resistant to alkali. — P. fireman. 



Does the northern forest dry the soil? I>. M. Kbavchinski I Lyesoprom. 

 Vyestnik, 1905, No. 1; abs. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Russ. Jour. Expt. Land\ 



1905), No. 4, p. 511). — Comparative determinations of moisture in forest soil and 

 in adjoining pasture soil are reported, which show that the forest soil wasbul Blightly 

 drier than the pasture Boil. — P. FIREM w. 



On the origin of moors, ('. A. Wbbeb {Ztschr. Angew. Chem., U No. }.'. 



pp. 1649-1654). — A discussion of the geological and botanical factor- involved in the 

 formation of upland and lowland moors, with descriptions of the characteristics ol 

 Borne typical North German moor.-. 



