NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Bacterial Relationships of certain Soils, Observations on. By H. A. 



Tempany (Jour. Imp. Dep. Agr. W.I. vol. xiv. No. 2, ,1914 ; pp. 146-152). 

 — Summary. (1) To investigate changes likely to take place in soils under tropical 

 conditions small plots of land were used as tests. Soils were sampled to a 

 depth of 12 inches, determining the original content of organic carbon, nitrogen, 

 and calcium carbonate. At the end of from twelve to fifteen months the soils 

 were re-sampled, and the organic carbon and nitrogen were re-determined. 

 An exactly similar process was carried out with lots of the original samples, 

 which were kept in the laboratory for six months under moist conditions. Some 

 of the soils were light, and some stiff and heavy. 



(2) At the end of the experiment it was found that both in the field and in 

 the laboratory considerable losses of organic carbon had taken place as the 

 result of bacterial activity, the losses varying between 25 and 50 per cent. ; 

 in one case only small loss was recorded. 



(3) With regard to the nitrogen contents, considerable decreases were seen 

 in the field in some instances ; in one case the loss was small. In the laboratory, 

 an appreciable loss of nitrogen occurred in one case ; in two cases no loss was 

 observed, while in one case there was a small loss. The losses of nitrogen which 

 occur in the field are attributed to nitrification and subsequent loss by leaching 

 in two instances, and probably in some measure to denitrification in one instance. 

 In view of the small content of calcium carbonate, the suggestion is made that 

 ammonia formed in the course of ammonification may serve as a base for the 

 neutralization of a part of the nitric acid formed in nitrification. 



(4) The results emphasize the high degree of bacterial activity existing in 

 tropical soils, and indicate the necessity of maintaining an adequate supply of 

 organic matter. — A. A. K. 



Balsam Fir. By Raphael Zon (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bull. 55, March 25, 

 1914). — Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (Linn.) Mill.) is a small evergreen tree, 

 seldom reaching, in the State of New York, a height of 85 feet and a diameter 

 of 18 inches breast-high. In Maine occasional trees attain a height of 95 or 

 100 feet and a diameter of 25 or 30 inches. As a rule, however, mature trees 

 are from 12 to 16 inches in diameter and from 70 to 80 feet high. Of all the 

 northern softwoods, balsam fir is probably one of the most symmetrical trees. 

 The bole has a very uniform and gradual taper, closely resembling a cylinder 

 in form. 



Balsam fir, though in general inferior to white pine and red spruce, is now 

 a tree of considerable economic importance in the north-eastern forests. It 

 constitutes numerically about 20 per cent, of the coniferous forests in northern 

 New York and Maine, and is abundant in many parts of New Hampshire, 

 Vermont, and in the swamps of northern Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and 

 Minnesota. Through prolific seeding and rapid growth it readily reafforests 

 cut-over areas and attains sizes suitable for pulp-wood in a short time. 



Balsam-fir wood, while to some extent inferior to spruce for construction 

 material, has a definite place in the pulp and lumber industries. — A. D. W. 



Beans, Two Diseases of Michigan. By J. H. Muncie (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Michigan, Sp. Bull. 68; March 1914, pp. 1-12; 1 plate and 2 figs.). — The two 

 diseases described are : 1. Bean Anthracnose, which is caused by a fungus, Glome- 

 rella (Colletotrichum) Lindemuthiana (Sacc. and Magn.), Shear., and attacks the 

 seeds, pods, and plants, forming circular dark-red spots, which frequently turn 

 black, and ultimately cause the death of the plants. The disease is spread by 

 the introduction of infected seed, and is favoured by wet weather and possibly 

 by insects. Spraying is of little value. The disease can only be avoided by 

 using clean seed. 



2. Bean Blight, which is caused by a bacterial organism, Bacterium Phaseoli, 

 E. F. Smith, and which only attacks varieties of beans and lupins. The germs 

 are carried from one season to another in the affected seeds, and are doubtless 

 scattered from the infected plants by the wind ; they can resist drying for more 

 than two hundred days. At present there are no effective remedies known 

 to control this blight. The discovery of blight-resistant plants is at present 

 the only way to eliminate the disease. Seed from uninfected areas is not 

 recommended, because of its greater susceptibility to the disease. — A. B. 



Bee Hives, Distance from Trees and Number of Hives Necessary. By F. R. 



Beuhne (Jour. Dep. Agr. Vict. p. 309; May 1914). — The distance to which bees 

 will fly in search of pollen and nectar varies with the season and the weather. 

 On warm sunny days bees will go a mile or more. On cold and cloudy days they 



