192 A. F. GUSTAFSON 



Close scrutiny of this table reveals that in three cases the stored auger sample 

 is higher in total soluble solids and in three cases, lower than the fresh sample. 

 Determinations made on fresh auger samples and on the stored sealed-tube 

 samples, therefore, are comparable. 



In each soil there is evidence of nitrification in the open-jar-auger sample, 

 the increases in the three soils being in order from 1.7 to 15.4 parts per million 

 from 73 to 103 and from 106 to 116. In some cases the nitrates run higher in 

 the sealed-tube soil and in some lower than in the fresh soil, so from these 

 meagre data no conclusion can be drawn as to the effect on nitrates of storing 

 in sealed tubes for a period of 68 days. 



It appears that the effect of storing at a temperature of 8 to 12°C. in open 

 jars for 68 days with the restoration of moisture evaporated at intervals of a 

 week or in sealed tubes for 65 days does not materially affect the quantity of 

 total soluble solids as determined by 1 : 5 extraction with distilled water, all 

 of the soils being in the moist state. Storing decreased the soluble solids as 

 determined in the water-free condition in five of the six comparisons made, 

 the losses, however, were not great. 



Experiment 3 



The object of this experiment was to study the effect on soluble solids and 

 nitrates of sun-, air- and oven-drying on soils that had been water-logged for 

 a considerable period, if, indeed, ever dry since their formation. 



In July, 1919, samples of a drab silt loam were collected near Cayuga Lake 

 close to the west wall of the valley at the mouth of a small tributary. The 

 surface and subsurface were taken with a steel tube, described above. The 

 subsoil, 20 to 40 inches, was taken with an auger in the bottom of holes left 

 by the tube after taking subsurface stratum. The soil suffered little, if any, 

 change due to aeration and since it was very wet, containing 73 to 108 per cent 

 of moisture, and the glass containers were sealed as soon as possible and placed 

 in the ice-box on reaching the laboratory. 



Determinations were made the same as in experiment 1 during the next few 

 days on the wet and corresponding oven-dry samples and in the same way on 

 the sun-dried samples on August 8. 



Another set of samples was collected on October 16, 1919, south of Ithaca, 

 near the east wall of the valley at the mouth of a small stream. This soil, 

 also a drab silt loam, was not so wet as the other and contained nitrates in 

 the subsurface, whereas the other soil had none in the subsurface. 



In every case the wet soil was mixed thoroughly by hand and the total 

 moisture determined in triplicate instead of in duplicate, as with all other soils. 



The "wet" samples were oven-dried during the night and determinations 

 made the following day, October 17. Half of the soil was set out to dry in the 

 laboratory, as there is usually not much sunshine and rainfall is frequent here at 

 this season. Determinations were made as soon as the soil was entirely air-dry. 



The results are given in table 3. 



