126 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A. Wiuslow, of Valparaiso, wlio gives the declared exports of nitrate of soda 

 from Chile to the United States for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1907, as 

 $16,699,723, and for 190S, $14,765,250. 



" Exports of fertilizers from the United States to other countries amounted 

 in value to $8,590,711 in 1907 and to $10,970,931 in 1908. Adding to the value 

 of the imports of nitrates the value of materials imported and largely used in 

 the manufacture of fertilizers and the value of fertilizers imported and declared 

 as such, and then deducting the exports of fertilizers from this country, the 

 conclusion is reached that a balance of api)roximately $17,000,000 goes abroad 

 every year for fertilizers." 



The nitrate deposits and industry in Chile, li. Lema (Mining Set., 58 (1908), 

 Nos. 12, PI). 225-227, figs. 3; 13, m>. 2J,Ji, 2.'i5, figs. 3; 1',, pp. 265-267, fig-f. -'t ; 

 Chem. Engin., 10 {1909), No. 1, pp. 1-9, figs. i2).— This is a series of historical, 

 statistical, and technical articles, giving also methods of extraction and prep- 

 aration of the nitrate. 



Calcium and sodium nitrates, J. Urban (Bl. ZucJcerrUhenbau, 16 (1909), 

 No. 8, pp. 113-116). — From his own experiments and those of other investigators, 

 the author concludes that as regards yield calcium nitrate is fully as effective 

 as sodium nitrate and that as regards quality of the crop it is apparently 

 superior. 



Investigations on denitrification, A. G, Doyarenko (Izv. Moskov. Selsk. 

 Khoz. Inst. [Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscoul, 15 (1909), No. 1, pp. 98-108, figs. 6).— In 

 experiments to determine the influence of the different components of manure 

 on the yield, adding nitrogen also in the form of nitrate of soda, ammonium 

 nitrate, and ammonium sulphate, it was observed that an injurious effect re- 

 sulted when strawy manure was used in connection with sodium nitrate and 

 ammonium nitrate, but not in the case of ammonium sulphate. 



The comparative value of nitrate of sodium and sulphate of ammonium as 

 manures (Agr. Gaz. [Tasmania^, 17 (1909), Nos. 5, pp. 112-119; 6, pp. lJ,0-lJi2 ; 

 7, pp. 161, 162). — This article is based upon experiments at Rothamsted, 

 Woburn, and other places in England and Scotland. 



Among the conclusions reached are that sulphate of ammonia can not be 

 profitably used on soil deficient in calcium carbonate, but should be plowed 

 under on soil containing a large amount of calcium carbonate. As a rule it 

 gives the best results when plowed or harrowed in before seeding. It does not 

 give its best results on dry soils and in dry seasons since it is not so readily 

 nitrified under such conditions, and in any case is slower in action than nitrate 

 of soda. The effect of sulphate of ammonia is more dependent than that of 

 nitrate of soda upon the presence of an abundant supply of mineral fertilizers. 

 In a 10-year series of field experiments with cereals the average return of 

 grain was 93 from sulphate of ammonia as compared with 100 from nitrate of 

 soda, and of straw 79 from the sulphate as compared with 100 from the nitrate. 

 With hay croiJS the sulphate was 85 to 88 per cent as efficient as nitrate of soda. 

 In 10-year experiments at Rothamsted the yield of potatoes with the sulphate 

 was on an average equal to that obtained with the nitrate. With mangels the 

 sulphate was 76 iier cent as efficient as the nitrate, but the quality of the roots 

 was better with the sulphate. 



In experiments with turnips in Scotland and the north of England the sul- 

 phate and nitrate were apparently equally effective. 



Application of sulphate of ammonia on light soils (Mark Lane E-rprciS, 101 

 (1909), No. Ji072, p. .'f03). — Reference is made to experiments in which sulphate 

 of ammonia was applied (1) entirely in autumn, (2) one-fourth in autumn and 

 three-fourths in sirring, (3) all in spring in one application, and (4) in spring 

 in two equal applications, the first just when growth had started and the sec- 



