REVIEW. 



Soils and Fertilizers. By Harry Snyder, B. S. Third edition. Cloth. Pp 

 xv+350. Price, $1.25 net. New York: The MacmiUan Company, 1908. 



This book is primarily intended as a text and manual for agricultural 

 instruction. It presents in a brief but comprehensive form the physical 

 and chemical principles of the science. Only one chapter is devoted to 

 the physical, properties of soils; this seems rather too brief in view of 

 their relative importance. The chapters on chemical composition of 

 soils, fertilizers, soil preparation, and crop rotation are especially com- 

 plete and should prove valuable not only to the student in the classroom, 

 but to the practical agriculturist as well. 



Much of the subject matter discussed, particularly the questions 

 of soil nitrogen and humus, is based upon the author's extensive work in 

 this field of investigation, hence the facts are presented in a very con- 

 vincing maimer. j^ 



The most important features of the work from the students' stand- 

 point are the chapters on laboratory practice and the review questions. 



The only reference throughout the book to the effect of cHmatic condi- 

 tions on soil fertility is to the checking of nitrification by cold and 

 strong sunlight, with the consequent general tendency to less soil nitrogen 

 in southern latitudes. As the book is not written to meet the demands 

 of tropical conditions, this can not be considered as an adverse criticism 



Tne book is especially well illustrated throughout. 



G. F. E. 

 169 



