RUSSIAN SOIL INVESTIGATIONS.^ 



The systematic study of Kussian soils may l)e said to have begun 22 

 years ago, when Prof. V. V. Dokouchayev. commissioned by the 

 ancient and renowned '"Imperial Free Economic Society," took up 

 the study of the Russian chernozem. Energetic and deeply devoted 

 to his work, he soon gathered around himself a number of gifted and 

 enthusiastic young scientists, who at once attacked various questions 

 relating to soils. Professor Dokouchayev succeeded in organizing in 

 various parts of Russia special soil investigations at the expense of 

 Government institutions and private persons. To Professor Dokou- 

 chayev belongs the honor of founding a new school in soil investiga- 

 tions, a school which views the soil as an independent natural body. 

 Among the pupils of Professor Dokouchayev the most celebrated is 

 N. Sibirtzev, the author of the classification of soils, described in this 

 article.'^ 



The second place in importance among the Russian soil investi- 

 gators unquestionably belongs to P. Kostichev, an independent 

 worker. An eminent chemist and agriculturist, he contril)uted much 

 to the knowledge of soils b}- his skillful and accurate anah'ses of soils. 



The following statement regarding the classification of soils and the 

 characteristics of Russian soils are taken from the reports of Sibirtzev 

 referred to above. 



GENETIC CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS. 



The conception of a soil as a natural body having a definite genesis 

 and a distinct nature of its own has led to attempts to create a natural 

 classification of soils on a scientific basis. To this important branch 

 of the study of soils the Russian investigators have made important 

 original contributions, and established new principles for the system- 

 atic study of soil formations, not confounding the latter with either 

 rock species or with the cultivated horizon of the ground. The 



' Translated and condensed from the original articles of N. Sibirtzev, by Dr. Peter 

 Fireman. 



^Genetic classification of .soils, N. Sibirtzev (Zapiski Novo-Alexand. Inst. Selsk. 

 Khoz. Lyesov. Memoirs of the Instit. of Agric. and Forest, at Novo-Alexandria, 

 Government of Lublin, IX (1895), pt. 2, pp. 1-23). Brief survey of the chief .soil 

 types of Russia (Ibid., XI (1898), pt. 3, pp. 1-40). The latter memoir was pre- 

 sented in French ( Etude des sols de la Russie) to the Seventh International Geological 

 Congress at St. Petersburg, in August, 181)7. 

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