426 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



' ' [They also indicate] the importance of maintaining a sufficient moisture rupply 

 for the continuous, uninterrupted growth of the crop — the great quantity of poorly 

 developed corn in this field being assumed to be due to the check in the growth of 

 the second planting, caused by drought; and of bringing all parts of a field to as 

 nearly the same moisture holding capacity as possible by the application of correc- 

 tives, preferably in the form of green crops, to be plowed under during active 

 growth." 



Soil moisture, H. H. Nicholson {WebrasTca Sta. Bj^t. 1899, j>P- 

 35-37). — A brief account is given of a stud}" of methods of determin- 

 ing the moisture content of soils, especial attention being called to 

 errors in sampling. An apparatus devised for taking soil samples at 

 different depths is described as follows: 



" [It] consists of a 2 in. brass tube 24 in. long. In the side, 4 in. back from the 

 cutting edge, a section is cut out and then fastened to the tube by a hinge joint. 

 This pocket cover is held in place by a sleeve which screws down against a shoulder 

 just a])ove the cutting edge. To obtain a sample at a depth of 9 to 12 in. , for example, 

 the tulje is driven down 12 in. into the soil and then withdrawn. The core of soil 

 remains in the tube. The sleeve is unscrewed and slipped back and the cover raised. 

 Three inches of the cylinder of soil thus exposed is cut out with a spatula and dropped 

 into a tared box and weighed and dried. Results obtained thus far are highly 

 encouraging." 



The diemical and geological history of the atmosphere, J. Stevenson {PMl, 



Mag. and Jour. Sri., 5. .^er., .',0 {J 900), Tw. S04,pp.S12-S2.3; 805, pp. S99-407).—Th.\s 

 paper discusses "the question as to whether any notable change has taken place in 

 the chemical composition of the atmosphere in the course of geological history." 

 The author adduces evidence derived mainly from a study of the amount of carbon- 

 aceoiis and other oxidizable matter due to vegetation which is found on the earth to 

 prove "that there was a time when there was no free oxygen on the earth." 



Movements of ground -water, B. S. Lyman {Jour. Franklin Inst., 150 {1900), 

 No. 4, pp. 285-299). — A critical review of reports on the principles and conditions of 

 the movements of ground water, by F. H. King and C. II. ychlichtcr, which have 

 already been noted (E. S. R., 11, pp. 517, 519). 



Artesian -wells, L. Woolman {Rjd. State Gcologid of Neto Jcrseji, 1899, ]>p.' 

 55-189). — A record is given of size, depth, character of strata penetrated, quality of 

 water supplied, etc., of 98 artesian wells, mainly in New Jersey, Ijut including some 

 in other States. 



The influence of forests on soil moisture, drainage, and ground water, and 

 the flo-w of springs, E. W. Ebermayek {Einfluas der Waldcr auf die llodenfcuchtig- 

 keit, auf da.i Sickerwas.ser, auf das Grundwasser, und aiif die Ergiehigkeit der Quellen. 

 Stuttiiart: Ferdinand Enke, 1900, pp. 51). 



Chlorin in the natural waters of the State, W. 8. Myeks {R)>t. Slate Geologist 

 of JVeu: Jersey, 1899, p>p. 14I-I4S). — Determinations of total solids and chlorin in 89 

 samples and detailed sanitary analyses of 18 saujples of surface waters are reported. 

 This data is being collected with a view to preparing a map showing the normal 

 chlorin content of the potable waters of each locality in New Jersey. 



The question of the hygienic importance of nitrites in drinking water, E. 

 ScHAER ( Ber. Dent. (Jhem. Gesell., 88 {1900), No. S, pp. 1232-1286).— T\w author agrees 

 with Spiegel (E. S. R., 12, p. 21) that in the present state of our knowledge the 

 determination of nitrites in water is neither positively nor negatively of decisive 

 importance. 



Soil investigations in the United States, M. Whitney ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Year- 

 book 1899, pp. 385-340). — This article discusses the influence of traasportation facilities 



