457 



Saccharine substances contained in fungi, M, R. Ferry {Rev. My col., 12 

 (1890), ^j?. 136-40. Joiirn. Royal Mic. Soc, 1870). — The conclusions drawn 

 from numerous analyses showed that: (1) Mannite is nearly always 

 present in the lar{>er fungi, crystallizing in long, tine needles; (2) tre- 

 halose is less frequently present, and may be known by its hard, massive 

 crystals; (3) chloride of potassium is present in some species of the 

 genus Amanita; (4) glucose is met within Amanita valida, A. spissa, A. 

 mappa, Tricholoma sulfureum, Russula virescens, etc. 



The behavior of sandy soils toward superphosphates, A. Thomson {Cen- 

 tralblt., f. Agr. Chem., 19 (1890), j)p. 585-588). — From laboratory 

 experiments the author concludes that the action of superphosphates 

 in sandy soils is very slight except where considerable quantities of 

 calcium carbonate, or small amounts of calcium carbonate and the 

 sesquioxide of either iron or aluminum are present, and at the same 

 time no considerable amount of nitrates are either applied to or formed 

 in the soil. 



Effects of different fertilizers on the quality of tobacco, Adolf Mayer 

 (Landic. Versuchs-JStatiouen, 38, pp. 92-126). — A series of experiments 

 were made on 12 fortieth-acre plats, 11 being fertilized with various 

 combinations of barn-yard manure, nitrate of soda, caustic ammonia, 

 superphosphate, Thomas slag, potash, and double sulphate of potash 

 and magnesia, and one remaining unmanured. On part of the plats 

 the barn-yard manure was applied in the fall, and on part in the spring 

 at the time the land was prepared. 



The plats fertilized with artificial fertilizers yielded about twice as 

 much, and those receiving barn-yard manure about three times as much 

 as the one remaining unmanured. With regard to cost of fertilizer 

 per kilogram of product, the chemicals in several instances compared 

 favorably with the manure. The result was decidedly better where the 

 barn-yard manure was applied in the fall than in the spring. The 

 plants responded better to the application of nitric acid than to ammonia 

 fertilizers. Thomas slag gave favorable results, as did also potassium 

 carbonate which was compared with potash-magnesium sulphate. 



With regard to comhuHtihility, which was determined by lighting a 

 piece of torn leaf, extinguishing the flame, and noting the number of 

 seconds till the glowing ceased, tobacco from plats receiving a fall 

 application of barn-yard manure glowed the longest, while that from plats 

 fertilized with chemicals was about equal in this respect to that from 

 the unfertilized plat. The application of barn-yard manure in the spring 

 seemed to exert a decidedly unfavorable influence on the burning 

 quality. This is explained by the fact that when the manure was applied 

 in the fall there was more opportunity for nitrification, and that this 

 increased the nitric acid in the leaf. Thus, with the fall application the 

 leaves contained 0.76 to 0,8 per cent of nitrogen as nitrates, and with 

 the sjtring application, 0.15 to 0.22 per cent. Potassium carbonate was 

 decidedly favorable as compared with potassium-magnesium sulphate. 

 21500— No. 8 6 



