ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE 

 FIXED NITROGEN RESEARCH LABORATORY FOR THE 

 FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1922. 



United States Dei'artment of Agriculture, 



Fixed Xitrogek Research Laboratory, 



Washi7igton, D. C, September i^, 192^. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the work 

 of the Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1922. 



Since this is the first year the laboratory has been under the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, it appeared desirable to preface the re- 

 port by a very brief statement as to the establishment and previous 

 Avork of the laboratory. 



The work of the year was completed under the directorship of 

 Dr. Richard C. Tolman, but his resignation and departure for Cali- 

 fornia, coupled with my unfamiliai'ity as 3et with the details of 

 the organization, has necessitated the preparation of this report 

 by thosa in charge of the various divisions of the laboratory work 

 with very little assistance from me. For editing this combined ma- 

 terial into essentially the form in which it now stands, I am in- 

 debted to Dr. J. M. Braham, chief of the cyanamide and utilization 

 section. 



Respectfully, 



F. G, Cottrell., 

 Acting Director. 

 Hon. H. C. Wallace, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF LABORATORY. 



The problem of nitrogen fixation is one of vital national im- 

 portance, both in war and peace, since nitrogen forms an essential 

 constituent of explosives, of fertilizers, of dyestuffs, and of many 

 3ther substances used in the arts. The dependence of the United 

 States on foreign sources for its supply of nitrogen compounds, par- 

 ticularly for the, manufacture of explosives, was forcibly brought 

 out during the World War, and the danger in such a policy became 

 clearly evident. The demand for explosives was immensely increased 

 upon the entry of the United States into the war. While attempts 

 were made to meet the immediate requirements by importation of 

 nitrates from Chile and by the stimulation of domestic production, 



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