534 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XI, No. ii 
days. Between August 25 and October 25, 5.45 inches of rain fell. On 
October 25 samples of soil were taken at 10 cm. intervals from the 
surface to 100 cm. in depth. The nitrates were found to have been 
returned to lower levels by the rain water, but on the whole they were 
nearer the surface at the end of the period than they were at the 
beginning, the total rainfall amounting to 7.92 inches. These authors 
point out that nitrates would bring better results in many cases if they 
were turned under or applied very early in the season. 
They 1 later continued the field experiments and studied the move¬ 
ments of nitrates in the soil by sampling and determining the nitrates 
present, and also by employing the sugar beet as the indicator. The 
previous field experiments were confirmed. The deep application of the 
nitrates afforded higher yields of beets than if they were placed nearer 
the surface. 
Demolon and Brouet 2 consider that the mode of application of fertil¬ 
izers should vary with the nature of the soil and with the cultural methods 
in vogue. In some 
cases part of the 
material should 
be applied in the 
autumn and the 
remainder in the 
spring when the 
seed bed is being 
prepared, and in others surface applications are desirable, and in still others 
plowing under is best. They maintain that salts have a general ten¬ 
dency to remain at the surface of the soil, rather large amounts of rain 
being required to carry nitrates into the subsoil. 
There are on record results of numerous studies of the translocation 
of salts in soils induced by percolating water, Sharp 3 having made re¬ 
cent contributions. Jensen 4 has also shown that the solubility of cer¬ 
tain inorganic constituents of the soil mass are increased by the presence 
of decaying organic matter; but, inasmuch as these do not bear directly 
upon our preliminary investigations, they are not considered at this time. 
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 
Usually brass tubes inches in diameter were employed as the 
containers in studying the movement of soluble salts in the soil, but 
in some of the early series glass cylinders 8 inches in length and 2 inches 
Pig. i.—A pparatus used in studying the movement of salts through soils. 
1 Malpeaux, I,., and Import, G. LA circulation des nitrates dans le sol; leur mode d’emploi. 
/n Ann. Sd. Agron.,s. 4, ann. 2,t. 2, no. 6, p. 705-726, 2 fig. 1913- 
2 Demolon, A., and Brouet, G. sur la pEnEtration des engrais solubles dans lbs sols. In 
Ann. Sd. Agron., s. 3, ann. 6, t. a, no. 6, p. 401-418, 2 fig. 1911. 
* s Sharp, D. T. fundamental interrelationships between certain soluble salts and soil col¬ 
loids. In Univ. Cal. Pub. Agr. Sd., v. 1, no. 10, p. 291-339 .3 fig- 1916. 
4 jensen, C. A. effect of decomposing organic matter on the solubility of certain inorganic 
constituents of the soil. In Jour. Agr, Research, v. 9, no. 8, p. 253-268. 1917- 
