Soil microbiology

Book Reviews of Microbiology, Soil Microbiology. By SELMAN A. WAKSMAN, Professor liut.gers liniversity. *John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1952. 356 pp. Price $6.W. As written in his preface, Selman A. Waksman’s aim was “to present, a broad outlinr of the subject, one might even say a philosophy of soil microbiology.” III fact, every important problem of soil microbiology is stated and discussed in the 16 chapters of this textbook: a general survey of the soil microbiological population (microflora and microfauna) ; decomposition of organic dead materials; synt,hesis processes (particularly humus formationj ; nitrogen met,abolism in soil (molecular nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitritication); and biological metabolism of mineral elements (sulfur, iron, phosphorus). Readers will greatly appreciate the chapters deaIing with these eminently practical matters: associa t,ive and antagonistic etfects; control of disease-producing microorganisms; and preparation and utilization of manure and compost, the effects of which appear tiow as essent,ial for soil conservation and improvement. The author has especially considered the dynamic :wpc'cls of the biological ant1 chemical evolution of soils. No techniques arr given. The references to the germs responsible for these processes correspond to a rather ancient knowledge; as an example, Stanier’s outstanding cont,ribution concerning cellulolytic proc esses has been entirely overlooked, as also Lee’s and Quastel’s papers dealing with nitritiration. It is true that at the cud of each chapter the reader fintls in the iridcx the references of some recent papers; but, apparent.lg, all references written irl a language other than English have beer1 omitted. ;Zs stated by the author. this textbook has not been writtell as :LII intro~luctor~ treatise, It will be useful to those w-ho wish t,o gel a general impression of i.he e1fect.s of the microflora in the soil, and of it,s importance on :igrononr~-. pctlo1og~, and biophysics. The reader wil! clearly realize that. soil science is t~iochcmistry. :md improvement :I t its beginning and that many problems of soil conservation h:~re not her11 solved. This is one of the most interest.ing aspects of this book owing to the import~at~cr of soil fertility for animal :tlltl human nut riiion ai1~1 wrlfarc. .J ~‘OCIION, Paris. France t). SC., F’. Molecular Architecture of Plant Cell Walls. 1%~I<. IX I’REXTOX, Ilist. I’., Reader in Plant, Biophysics, Universit,y of lec~ls. Johtl Wiley & Sons, Inc., Sew York, N. I-., 1952. xii + 211 pp. Price $6.75. The analysis of this book yields five chapt,ers which J~repare the reader for the uii(lerst ailding of t,he following report, of Dr. Ii. R. Preston’s extensive work on plant, cell walls in other Jive chapters of the monograph. There is an at t,rsctive hist.oric:tl intrnduotioti concerning c~cll wall studies.

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