HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ALDEHYDES IN SOILS. 19 
obtained harmful to the seedling wheat. Soil No. 8, Table X, was 
the raw soil as it was hauled from the field prior to the incorpora- 
tion of manure in preparation for greenhouse use. No aldehyde 
could be detected in this soil, nor did such residue as was obtained 
show any harmful effect. 
Soil No. 11, Table IX, the poor sample of Miami stony loam, 
contained aldehyde, and the depressed growth obtained is shown in 
Plate VI, figure 1, together with the effect of the identically ex- 
tracted good field sample. The latter showed no aldehyde reac- 
tions, but as seen from the photograph it was, nevertheless, some- 
what harmful — a fact which is recorded in Table X under No. 41. 
Soil No. 12, Table IX, the Ontario loam, poor, from Oneida County, 
N. Y., together with its good companion sample, recorded as soil No. 
42 in Table X, presents an interesting story. In 1907 both fields 
were poor, unproductive soils. Both fields were manured heavily 
every year. One field responded to this treatment, the other did 
not. 
The field now good, represented by soil No. 42, Table X, grew corn in 
1907 and produced a poor crop. In 1908 the field was manured and 
planted to oats, giving a good yield. It was manured every year 
after this. In 1909 and 1910 hay was grown with good results, 
the largest crop being in 1910. In 1911 an excellent crop of corn 
was grown, and in 1912 oats were again grown with good yields. 
The other field represented by soil No. 12, Table IX, was in meadow 
in 1907 and gave poor yields. In 1908 the field was manured and 
planted to corn, which failed entirely. It was manured every year 
after this without good results. In 1909 oats were planted, but 
made very little growth. In 1910 and 1911 grass was sown and 
gave poor results. In 1912 the soil was heavily manured and again 
planted to corn. The yield of stover was very poor, and no grain 
was formed. 
The laboratory examination of the two soils showed them to be 
neutral in reaction. The good soil gave no reactions for aldehydes 
when extracted for this purpose, but the extractive material was 
slightly harmful. The poor soil, however, gave considerable amounts 
of aldehyde material, and this was distinctly harmful to the wheat 
seedlings, reducing growth 28 per cent. 
Soil No. 15, Table IX, the Salt Lake clay, is from a poor spot 
in an otherwise good field. The remainder of the field is represented 
by soil No. 51, Table X, and was collected about 35 feet from the poor 
spot. The color of the soil in the poor spot is light gray, while the 
good soil is gray with a pink tint. This spot is generally bare and 
seldom produces a crop, while the remainder of the field is very 
productive, yielding from 20 to 30 bushels of wheat per acre. The 
drainage in the poor spot is poorer than in the remainder of the 
