Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-13

that all the evidence regarding the ma
ture of this material indicates that ir
is of very complex composition; that
nearly all classes of organic chemical
compounds may be found in it, and
tat these compounds include some
that modify the physical condition OF
the soil or determine the nature of tho
micro organisms growing therein. as
well as those that may be directly
harmful or beneficial 10 crops. .3-4R
The organic compounds isolated from
soils make a list that may be classified
as fellows: Thirteen organic acids, nine
organic basic compounds. three car
bohydrates. two aldehydes, two alco-
hols, one each hydracarbon, glyceride.
ester. sulphur compound. phosphorus
compound. and an acid hydride. This
list viewed in the light of possible com
pounds is so far from complete as to
be regarded properly as a beginning,
still when classified, il probably indi-,
Gates roughly the proportions of the
classes of organic compounds present
in soils.
In carrying out this work the bureau
of soils made no attempt TO include all
the organic matter in any one soil IN
the investigation. The aim was rather
to isolate compounds not heretofore
found in soils with the hope, not only
of adding to the knowledge as to the
organic matter of soils in general. but
also of throwing light on such abnor-
NAL characteristics as some particular
soil presented. For this reason it Is
not possible to make any specific or
even general statement as to what
properties of the organic matter of the
soil many OF the compounds represent
There seems To be an idea prevalent
in some quarters that the organic
chemical compounds shown fo~be pres
ent IN the soil organic matter, gre ratii-
err Incidental COMMUNICATIONS of the
larger, more important and stin mys-&
terious humns. said Edmund eii
shorey. goternnient scientist in soil q
fertilitv fnxestiga tons. Now While Ii
is true. that there still remains aslarge !:
proportion of the organic matter hns
identified, ii IS not so lares IN the
soil of average organic content as x
many imagine. This unidentified pors
ton IS now known 10 be made up
largely Of compounds related to the d
resins. and the identification OF It's cofi- y
stitupnts is difficult because the chell-
ietrv OF this class of plant constituents
is still in a chaotic condition, ana
there is almost nothing definite with
which To compare an isolated soil resin
or resin acid
OF the th.rty-five organic COMPOUNDS r.
isolated from soils. government experts
have extracted fifteen from soil by di-
lute, s.ikuli. To he sure, they are a part
OF the organic matter included in the
general term humus, but they are for
The most part not precipihted when
this extrac; is acidfied. IN other words.
they arc a. part of the hunts extract.
but not included in the smatiere noir,
except as held in i, by 'sbsbEption. The
compounds are: oxalic saeld, suecmic
acid, saccharaie acid. acrylic acid. w.
sine. adenine, choline, trimthyianlne.
saIieylic aldehydc. mannite. rhamnase.
trithiebenzaldehyae. nucleic acid. et
unknown consttution. and an nnident'---
fed aldehyde.
Except in thetase of SOILS high yins
humus contenf.,lss fffs portion of the or
eanie matter of soils is one-half or
more of that extracted Sy xtkalies and
with the knowledge Of rhv Companies
present in this fraction an9 the meth
obs available for their isolatian or de-
it is in many cases possible
To account for nearly the wheln OF u.
Mr.. Shorey has explained. .
The investigation which the bureau
OF SOILS has just completed bears ON
4 conclusion thai it reached some time
n 60. that while the work emphasizes
the complex Character of the organiss.
matter of Soils. it demonstrates at<fsaa
same time that this complexitxsis not
SO great that the chemical ehu{s
he determined BY nadsl a.
escarch.-Indianaf pol ! = = + y