CURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Soil conditions and plant growth 
The rapid advancement ‘of our knowledge of the soil as related to plant 
production is reflected by the necessity for a new revision of RussELL’s Soil 
- conditions and plant growth The fourth edition appears in a slightly different 
size and binding, marking its separation from the series of Monographs on 
Biochemistry edited by PLmmMER and Hopkins, and the inauguration of a new 
series, The Rothamsted Monographs on Agricultural Science, edited by E. J. 
RUSSELL. Students of soil problems and plant physiology will welcome this 
departure, and await with keen interest the other eit volumes announced as 
in preparation. 
The present volume covers the entire field, and the others are to deal 
with more restricted phases, in more complete and more critical fashion than 
would be possible without undue expansion of the original work. The chapter 
headings remain about as they were. Chapter ii becomes “Soil conditions 
affecting plant growth” instead of “The requirements of plants”; and a 
second appendix is added, which shows in tabular form the amounts of minerals 
absorbed from the soil by agricultural crops in England. 
early every chapter shows enlargement, especially those which deal 
with the soil conditions affecting plant growth, the biological conditions of the 
soil, and the relation between the microorganic population of the soil and plant 
growth. The literature citations are increased from 18 to 28 pages, and the 
whole work from 240 to 355 pages of text. More figures have been added, 
with a frontispiece of BoussiINcAULT, the founder of modern agricultural 
chemistry, which adds to the attractiveness of the volume. 
The literature mentioned by WALSTER? in the review of the third edition 
has nearly all been given consideration in the revision, and the discussion 
is brought up to date as nearly as possible. The book is an excellent general 
introduction to the field, and will be indispensable to students of plant physi- 
ology, ecology, and agriculture. With this new departure in publication of 
monographs, the Rothamsted Station, already justly famous for its splendid 
contributions to agricultural practice, is certain to extend very greatly its 
influence as a center of scientific investigation.—C. A. SHULL. 
* RussE tt, E. J., Soil conditions and plant growth. 4th ed. pp. xii+-406. figs. 32. 
New York: Longmans Green & Co. 1921. 
? Bot. Gaz. 67:171-173. 1919. 
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