24 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



natural productiveness of the soil, but as pointed <Mit in the bulletin "the 

 duplicate 'check' plats show such wide variations that considerable latitude 

 must be allowed in the interpretation (if nil results, and the quantitative com- 

 parisons should not be siyen too ^^reat weij^ht." 



New nitrogenous fertilizers utilizing atmospheric nitrogen [Rev. Gen. 

 Chilli., 12 (1909), No. 11, Sup., pp. 7/.7,'M6*3).— This is an abstract of a report 

 by II. Guillin to the International Conj^ress of Applied Chemistry at London 

 regarding what has been done in France in the manufacture and use of such 

 products, referring more particularly to Schloesing's modification of the Nor- 

 wegian process of manufacturing nitrate of lime and Graudeau's experiments 

 to dotorniine the fertilizing value of the atmospheric products. 



The utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, particularly for the manufacture 

 of air saltpeter, A. Bernthsen (Eiif/iii. and Miii. Jour., 88 (1909), No. 16, pp. 77.?- 

 776-; Rev. Gen. Cliim., 12 (1909), No. 15, pp. 257-272; Umschau, 13 (1909), No. 

 31, pp. (JJi3-(}50, figs. 5; Rev. Elcctrochiin. ct Electrom^tal., 3 (1909), No. 7, pp. 

 193-208) .—»ee a previous note (E, S. R., 21, p. 53). 



Calcium cyanamid and dicyandiamid, D. N. Prianishnikov (Ahs. in Chem. 

 Ztg., 33 (1909), No. 69, p. 626; Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 (1909), No. 13, 

 p. 724). — This is a note on a paper presented at the International Congress of 

 Applied Chemistry at London, which reports the results of experiments on 

 various plants with calcium cyanamid in comparison with nitrate of soda. 



In pure sand in which micro-organisms were not active the cyanamid acted 

 as a poison on all plants when the seed was planted at less than 1* months 

 after the application of the fertilizing material. A study of the changes which 

 occur in connection with loss of nitrogen from the cyanamid showed that when 

 the material was spread out in thin layers as high as 66 per cent of the total 

 nitrogen was lost. A part of the nitrogen was recovered as ammonia when 

 the gaseous products of decomposition were drawn through sulphuric acid. 

 About 27 per cent of the total nitrogen of the cyanamid was dissolved by treat- 

 ment in the cold, about 49 per cent when subjected to hot solution. 



The formula of dicyandiamid is discussed. 



Nitrolime, Ragondet (Jour. Soc. Cent. Agr. BcJg., 56 (1909), No. 8, pp. 250, 

 251). — The advantage of mixing nitrolime (lime nitrogen) with nitrate of lime 

 is discussed. Such mixtures have a high content of nitrogen and good mechan- 

 ical condition. 



Do certain potash salts exert a beneficial influence on the growth of plants 

 through their water-holding capacity? B. Tacke (Driit. Landir. Pressc, 36 

 (1909), No. 71, pp. 753, 75'/). — In pot experiments it was found that the use of 

 amounts of potash salts which may be employed in practice exerted an ap- 

 preciable influence in reducing the amount of water taken up from the soil. 

 The influence was more marked in the case of crude salts than in case of pure 

 salts, due to the larger amounts used of the former. 



On the injury resulting from the use of kainit in the bedding of domestic 

 animals, O. Brandes (Ueber die SchudHchkcit des Einstreuens von Kainit in die 

 Stallstreu der Haustiere. Inaug. Diss. Bern, 1908; rev. in Deut. Tierdrztl. 

 Wchnschr.. 17 (1909), No. 32, pp. .'/7//, .',75; Deut. Landiv. Presse, 36 (1909), 

 No. 6-'i, p. 689). — The use of kainit under animals as a manure preservative is 

 condemned on account of a pronounced injurious effect on the skin of animals, 

 which is described, and its poisonous action on fowls which pick up and eat 

 particles of the salt. 



The use of potash silicate as a fertilizer, E. Wein (Deut. Landw. Presse, 36 

 (1909), Nos. 75, pp. 79//, 795; 76, ;)/). 807, 808; 77, pp. 816, 817; Illus. Landw. 

 Ztg., 29 (1909), Nos. 7/,. pp. 699-702; 75, pp. 707, 708; 78, pp. 739, 7.'/0).— In 

 four years' experiments oii different soils and crops the use of potash silicate 

 gave on the whole very good results as compared with other potash salts. 



I 



