222 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



first of these reports deals with the topography, strati o-raphy, soils, and 

 sprino-s of the area studied; the second with topography and drainage, 

 the great raft in the Red River and its effects, the geology and soils of 

 the bottoms, the geology of the hill lands, and aboriginal works on 

 Caddo bottoms, etc. The notes on soils relate rather to "their general 

 aspect and location than to their agricultural value." Discussion of the 

 latter is deferred until analyses of the soils have been completed. The 

 tj'pical soil areas are mapped. The third report gives a history of the 

 study of the Five Islands and the geographical position and a general 

 topographical description of the islands, special attention being given 

 to the occurrence, origin, and extent of the salt deposits and the histor}^ 

 of their exploitation. 



Analyses of artesian well waters, W. R. Perkins and E. B. Ferris {^fississ^ppi 

 Sta. Rpt. 1899, p. 41) ■ — The mineral constitnents of 6 samples of artesian well water 

 are reported. 



Drinking water, C. H. Jones and B. O. White ( Vrrmont Sta. Rpt. 1899, pp. 145, 

 146) . — Examinations with reference to sanitary condition of -1 samples of spring water, 

 12 of well water, and 2 of l)r(>ok water are reported. 



Distilled water for drinking purposes, H. L. Bolley {Xorth Dakota Sta. Rpt. 

 1899, pp. 2.9-31, figs. ^) . — Tavo cheap forms of apparatus suited to use on the kitchen 

 stove are described. 



Analyses of soils, AV. R. Perkins and E. B. Ferris {Mississippi Sta. Rpt. 1899, 

 pp. 31-35) .■ — Chemical and mechanical analyses of 71 samples of soils from different 

 parts of the State are reported. 



Chemical composition of soil, J. A. Murray {An. Rpt. on Field Expts. Agr. 

 Dept. Univ. Col. Walc^^, 1899, pp. 75-78). — A chemical analysis of a soil which had 

 Ijeen in grass for several years and was rather l)adly drained. 



Chemical methods for ascertaining the lime requirements of soils, H. J. 

 Wheeler, B. L. H.\rtwell, and C. L. Sarc;ent {Rhode Island Sta. Bui. 62, pp. 

 65-88). — For abstract of this article as published elsewhere, see E. S. R., 11, p. 1003. 

 , The inflxience of lime on vegetation and the value of the calcimetric analy- 

 sis of soils, A. Gassek and R. Maike [Bid. Soc. Sci. Xancij, 2. .st'/-., 10 {1899), Xo. 34, 

 pp. 32-41) .—A study of the distribution of plants as determined b}'^ the lime content 

 of the soil and of the value of the determination of lime in soils as a means of ascer- 

 taining the kinds of plants to which they are adapted. A bibliography of the subject 

 is ap]jended. 



Moor culture at Tranekjar, Denmark, L. .Iorgensen {TidsHkr. Landokon, 1900, 

 No. 6, pji. .Wl-.)2o). 



Soil temperatures, R. E. Trimble ( Colorado Sta. Rpt. 1899, pp. 105-109) .—Tables 

 give the weekly means of temperature at depths of 3 in. to (5 ft. in irrigated and unir- 

 rigated plats of soil on the college grounds during 1898 and 1899, and dates of 

 extreme t('nij)eratur(' in the irrigated ])lat (hiring 1889-1899. 



On the distribution of nitric-acid bacteria in some Danish soils, II. Jensen 

 {Tidsskr. Landbr. Plantearl, 5 {1899), pyp. 173-177) .—The investigations conducted 

 by the author indicate that nitric-acid bacteria are not found in wild heather and 

 moor soils, and that they appear very slowly in such soils under ordinary methods 

 of culture. Their absence is most likely a result of the acid reaction of the soil, 

 which is only neutralized by heavy liming or by formation of soil ammonia after 

 several years (through aid of schizomycetes) . It seems, furthermore, that the nitric- 

 acid bacteria which appear when these new soils are cultivated are much less active 

 than the bacteria in ol<l cultivated soils. — 1\ w. woll. 



