August 24, 1917] 



SCIENCE 



175 



in connection with the solution of the moot 

 question regarding the relative merits of 

 rock phosphate and acid phosphate can 

 readily be seen. 



The oxidation of sulfur in the soil, or 

 sulfofication, a process which has recently 

 received some attention and which gives 

 evidence of being of great importance from 

 the soil fertility standpoint has been shown 

 to be accomplished by several species of 

 molds. The action of these organisms in 

 this process may become of special impor- 

 tance in connection with the recent sugges- 

 tion for the production of available phos- 

 phorus by composting rock phosphate, sul- 

 fur and soil or manure. 



The process of ferrifieation, or iron oxi- 

 dation in soils, while largely chemical in 

 nature according to results thus far se- 

 cured, is brought about partly by microor- 

 ganisms and certain molds are apparently 

 much more active in this action than any 

 of the bacteria studied. 



Experiments on the production of avail- 

 able potassium bj' molds should also yield 

 interesting results. No data have yet been 

 secured on this point. 



In fact, it seems evident that mold action 

 in soils may be of far greater significance 

 than has previously been supposed in pre- 

 paring available food for plant growth. No 

 longer should the study of microorganic ac- 

 tivities in soils consider bacteria alone. 

 Mold action must also be investigated, and 

 in most cases it is undoubtedly true that 

 only vague, incomplete results can be se- 

 cured if such mold studies are not included. 

 Many results secured in bacteriological in- 

 vestigations might be explained and inter- 

 preted much more clearlj^ and definitely if 

 the activities of molds wei'e considered. 



If soil bacteriology is to be developed to 

 the proper extent in the future and the re- 

 lation of microorganisms to soil fertility is 

 to be established with any degree of cer- 



tainty, investigations must include not only 

 bacterial action, but the activities of molds 

 and possibly also the growth of protozoa 

 and algas. 



It is certainly desirable that the investi- 

 gations of molds in soils and their activities 

 and importance be carried out much more 

 generally and on a larger scale than is the 

 case at present. Here is a field of study 

 rich in possibilities and the importance of 

 work along these lines can not be ques- 

 tioned. P. E. Brown 



Iowa Ageicultural Experiment Station 



THE U. S. BIOLOGICAL STATION AT 

 BEAUFORT, N. C, DURING 1916 



The general appearance of the site of the 

 station was materially enhanced during the 

 year by enlarging the improved portion of the 

 grounds, and by planting grass, sea oats, trees, 

 and shrubbery. Through these improvements 

 the comfortableness of the station was also 

 increased. The laboratory, as usual, was open 

 during the summer to special investigators. 

 The investigators, with a single exception, had 

 engaged in research at this station before and 

 they continued during the past season lines 

 of work previously undertaken. 



The present large series of experiments in 

 diamond-black terrapin culture, which was 

 started in 1909, has progressed with marked 

 success. Several new experiments in addition 

 to those already under way were undertaken. 

 There are now approximately 1,600 terrapins, 

 exclusive of the young of 1916, in the pounds 

 which are being used for experimental pur- 

 poses. This experimental work has shown 

 quite conclusively that terrapins can be grown 

 and kept in vigorous condition in captivity, 

 for some of the earliest broods, hatched in the 

 pounds at the station, have reached maturity 

 and are very prolific in the production of eggs, 

 and the offspring is equally as vigorous as 

 that of the wild terrapins confined after ma- 

 turity had been attained. 



A total of 2,611 terrapins hatched during 

 the summer of 1916 has to date been taken 

 from the egg beds. This number will be some- 



