CIENCE 
Fripay, May 3, 1912 
CONTENTS 
The Practical Classification of Soils: 
FESSOR ELMER O. FIPPIN 
The British Association 
Pensions at the University of Chicago ...... 
Scientific Notes and News .........+++++00s 
University and Educational News 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
The Name and Brain of the Gar: PrRo- 
FEssoR Burt G. WitpER. A Fistula in the 
Dog Fish: Ropert CUSHMAN MurpHy. Note 
on ‘‘ Some Early Physiographic Inferences’’: 
CHARLES A. Hart 691 
Scientific Books :— 
Cannon on the Mechanical Factors of Diges- 
tion: Dr. JoHN AuvuER. Chemical Teat- 
books: PRoressor J. EH. GILPIN. Basker- 
ville and Estabrook on Progressive Problems 
in General Chemistry. Somerville’s Bibli- 
ography of Non-Euclidean Geometry: Dr. 
ARTHUR RANUM. Cockayne on the Dune 
Areas of New Zealand: PROFESSOR Ray- 
MOND J. Poot. Zahm’s Aerial Navigation: 
PROFESSOR A, LAWRENCE ROTCH .......... 693 
Special Articles :— 
Heating of Local Areas of Ground in 
Culebra Cut: Donato F. MacDonaLp .... 701 
The Astronomical and Astrophysical Society 
of America: PRoressor R. H. Curtiss ... 703 
Societies and Academies :— 
The Academy of Science of St. Louis: PrRo- 
FESSOR GEORGE T. Moore. The Botanical 
Society of Washington: W. W. STOCKBERGER 714 
MSS, intended for publication and books, etc., intonded for 
review should be sent to the Editor of Screncz, Garrison-on- 
Hudson, N, Y. 
THE PRACTICAL CLASSIFICATION OF 
SOILS 
Relation of the Soil to Agricultural 
Practise—The comprehensive study of 
agricultural questions which has arisen in 
recent years has revealed the necessity for 
accurate information on the character and 
distribution of soil conditions. It is being 
more clearly recognized how fundamen- 
tally the soil enters into all questions of 
agricultural betterment, both scientific and 
practical. Not only does the intelligent 
management of the soil rest upon a proper 
appreciation of the inherent physical, 
chemical and biological variations in soils 
in different parts of the country, but the 
suitability of these to different crops, the 
adustment of the crops which can best be 
produced to the business organization of 
the farm, its size, equipment, money prod- 
uct, transportation and market facilities, 
and the social life of the community are 
involved. The application of the results of 
the investigation of the institutions for 
agricultural research—the experiment sta- 
tions, the colleges of agriculture and the 
federal and state departments of agricul- 
ture—must take account first of all of soil 
conditions. Types and varieties of crops, 
methods of culture, tillage, drainage, irri- 
gation and fertilization give better results 
upon some types of soil than upon others. 
Those which are well suited to one soil may 
be a total failure upon some other soil. 
The experiment stations have often con- 
fined their study to one or two types of 
soil on the central institution farm. It is 
only within very recent years that the im- 
portance of carrying on investigations at 
substations, upon the several typical soil 
