The chemical composition of the soils and of the colloidal separates of twelve red earths from three widely differing locations in Italy has been determined. T h e red earths of southern Italy are characterized by low organic matter, little if any CaCO,, and appreciable quantities of soluble salts. Those of northern Italy have opposite characteristics. T h e SiO,/K,O, ratios of the colloids range from 1.60 to 2.09 and bear no relationship to location or climatic factors.It is concluded that similar pedogenetic processes have occurred throughout the Italian peninsula and are independent of geographical position or climatic conditions. In particular the SiO,/R,O, ratio of the colloids of the southern soils is not unusually low as has been suggested by other workers. W. 0. 1927. The determination of organic matter in soils by means of hydrogen peroxide. J. Agric. Res. 34,339-56. 231-4. di alcuni terreni italiani. Ann. Fac. Agr. Univ. (Bari), 6, 179-95.
ROBINSON,ates, J. Agric. Sci. 6, 323-7.