NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



167 



differences it is seen that (carbon dioxide in ordinary air being taken as -04 per 

 cent.) the last-named gas is six times more abundant in arable soil air than in 

 ordinary air. There is a large seasonal variation in the proportion of carbon 

 dioxide in soil air, which reaches a maximum in late spring and again in late 

 autumn, at which periods rapid biochemical changes are taking place in the soil. 

 The highest and lowest percentages of carbon dioxide found in the soil air were 

 •37 and -08 respectively. 



The free air filling the soil spaces is not the only air in the soil, for on sub- 

 jecting the soil to diminished pressure it was found that the vacuum persistently 

 began to fall soon after exhaustion appeared to be complete. Thus gas was 

 being evolved from the soil and was found to be composed of over 90 per cent, of 

 carbon dioxide, with a small percentage of nitrogen and a still smaller percentage 

 of oxygen. The gas is dissolved in the soil moisture and other soil constituents. 

 Consequently the soil conditions are such that both aerobic and anaerobic 

 organisms can find suitable surroundings. (In the appendix to the paper is given 

 a description of the apparatus used for collecting the soil air.) — /. E. W. E. H. 



Soils, Occurrence and Nature of Carbonized Materials in. By Oswald Schreiner 

 and B. E. Brown (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Soils, Bull. 90, Dec. 1912; 7 plates). 

 — Describes methods of estimating carbon in soils. — C. P. C. 



Soy Bean, Report on the. By A. G. Turner (Agr. Jour. Cape G. H. 

 vol. vii. No. 1, Jan. 191 4 ; pp. 67-77). — Treats of the Soy Bean both from its 

 cultural and commercial sides. The conclusion is that this crop " can be grown 

 throughout South Africa." A list of methods of employment both as human 

 and animal food is appended, as well as the various purposes to which the oil 

 may be applied. " It is estimated that Great Britain and Europe can take 

 ten million tons of soy beans per annum in the event of the beans being used for 

 human as well as for animal consumption and for industrial purposes." — A. A. K. 



Spiraea arborea. By W. J. Bean (Kew Bull. 1914, p. 53 ; plate). — A 

 fine Spiraea, allied to S. Lindleyana, introduced from Hupeh. (See Journal 

 R.H.S. xl. p. 221.) — F. J. C. 



Spraying Machines, Accessories. By W. H. Goodwin (U.S.A. Exp. Stn., 

 Ohio, Bull. 248, pp. 29 ; 9 plates). — A concise description of the various sprayer 

 fittings, in several sections, is given in the above bulletin, the section dealing with 

 nozzles and valves being especially good. Six tables show the size, weight, 

 capacity, and spraying value of each type of nozzle, and two plates illustrate 

 types of spray thrown by them. — C. P. C. 



Strawberry Runners, To Prepare for Planting. By H. C. (Rev. Hort. 

 Beige, May 1914, p. 173). — To produce vigorous and fruitful strawberry plants 

 much care must be bestowed upon the runners. As soon as the parent plants 

 have done fruiting, weeds, dead leaves &c, should be removed from the bed, and 

 it should be well manured (40 gr. superphosphate, 30 gr. sulphate of potash, and 

 40 gr. sulphate of ammonia to the square metre, lightly forked in). Only three 

 to four runners should be left on each plant. Those should be reserved w r hich come 

 from the most fertile plants. Do not let the runner develop beyond the first 

 plant, and water when necessary. The young plants may also be rooted in 

 3-inch pots in good soil and planted out at from 10 to 12 inches apart as soon as 

 they have rooted. They should be in full sun and be dressed with the mixture 

 recommended above. They may be put into their permanent place in August 

 or September. — M. L. H. 



Sulphur as a Stimulant to Plant Growth. By F. de Castela (Jour. Dep. Agr. 

 Vict. p. 290 ; May 1914). — M. Chauzit's conclusions are — 



1. Sulphur acts favourably on the growth of the vine (using 180 lb. to the acre). 



2. The greater the quantity of organic matter in the soil the more pronounced 

 is the action. When the quantity of organic matter diminishes, the effect of the 

 sulphur diminishes also, becoming practically nil in the absence of organic matter, 

 as was found by Messrs. Vermorel & Dantony. 



3. The action of sulphur is all the more evident if it be thoroughly mixed 

 with the organic matter on which it is to act. 



4. The yield increases with an increase in the quantity of sulphur used. 



C. H. H. 



