SOILS FERTILIZERS. 127 



ond 3 weeks later. The crop used was rye, and the exi)erimeuts extended over 

 2 years. The soil was well supplied with potash and phosphoric acid. 



Spring application gave better results than fall application. Apparently the 

 best results can be expected from 2 applications in the spring, one just at the 

 beginning of growth and the second about 3 weeks later. The soils should in 

 all cases be supi)lied with an abundance of lime. See also a previous note 

 (E. S. R., 21, p. 720). 



The physiological characteristics of ammonium salts, D. N. Prianishnikov 

 (Isv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. [Ann. Jn.st. Agron. Moscou^, 15 (1909), No. 1, 

 pp. 2.'i-31, figs. 2). — The experiments reported showed that ammonium sulphate 

 in the presence of raw phosphates exerted two opposite influences, one positive, 

 due to the solvent action resulting from the physiological acidity of the salt, 

 the other negative, resulting from the injurious effect on plant growth of an 

 excess of acidity. When calcium carbonate was added in increasing amounts 

 the acid reaction was reduced and the yield increased, except that when too 

 much calcium carbonate was added the yield was again reduced as a result of 

 unfavorable conditions for the assimilation of the phosphoric acid of the raw 

 phosphate. Analysis showed that the phosphoric acid content of the crop 

 decreased with increasing amounts of calcium carbonate. 



Experiments with different organic nitrogenous fertilizers, A. G. Doya- 

 RENKO {Izv. Moskov. Sclsk. Khoz. Inst. [Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou], 15 {1909), 

 No. 2, pp. 127-136). — Experiments are reported which show that the nitrogen 

 of castor pomace and certain wastes from tobacco factories is very effective as 

 a fertilizer, but that the nitrogen of by-products of the biological process of 

 water purification is very slow in action. 



Nitrogen and nitric acid, R. Carl (Osterr. Chcm. Ztg., 12 {1909), No. 18, pp. 

 237, 238). — This is a brief review of progress during 1906 to 1908 in electro- 

 chemical methods of utilizing the nitrogen of the air. 



Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (Electrochem. and Metallurg. Indus., 7 

 {1909), No. 7, pp. 303-305). — Papers on the electrical fixation of atmospheric 

 nitrogen by A. Bernthsen, S. P^yde, and N. Caro are briefly reviewed. 



The manufacture of air nitrate, O. Schonherr (Elektrotech. Ztschr., 30 

 {1909), Nos. 16, pp. 365-369, figs. J,; 17, pp. 397-i,02, figs. 6; aJ)s. in Sci. Abs., 

 Sect. B— Elect. Engin., 12 (1909), No. 138, pp. 231, 232; Electrochem. and Metal- 

 lurg. Indus., 7 {1909), No. 6, pp. 245-2Jf7, figs. 3). — The electric process worked 

 out by the author is fully described. 



The manufacture of calcium carbid {Engineering [London], 87 {1909), Nos. 

 2256, pp. Jt05-Jt08, 410, 411, 422, figs. 19; 2257, pp. 443-445, figs. 11; 2258, irp. 7/77, 

 478, 480, 481, 492, figs. 22; 2259, pp. 520-522, figs. 12; 2260, pp. 546-550, 552, figs. 

 21; 2262, pp. 617-620, 634, fiil>^- 14; ^^65, pp. 720-723, figs. 6; 2267, pp. 777-7S0, 782, 

 figs. 12; a1)s. in Sci. Abs., Sect. B— Elect. Engin., 12 {1909), No. 139, pp. 272- 

 274; Electrochem. and Metallurg. Indus., 7 {1909), Nos. 5, pp. 212-216; 7, pp. 

 309-313, figs. 8; 8, pp. 360, 361, fig. i).— This article describes in detail the 

 factories and pi-ocess used at Odda, Norway, in the manufacture of calcium 

 carbid and calcium cyanamid. 



On calcium cyanamid, D. N. Prianishnikov {Iisv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. 

 [Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou], 15 (1909), No. 2, pp. 145-165, figs. 6).— The results 

 of pot experiments with different crops showed that calcium cyanamid in most 

 cases was nearly as efl'ective as nitrate of soda. With most plants on pro- 

 ductive soils the time of application seemed to be of no special importance, 

 although in this respect white mustard was somewhat more sensitive than the 

 Gramineae. In sand cultures,the calcium cyanamid was poisonous to all plants. 

 This appeared to be dependent to a large extent upon the biological processes by 

 which the cyanamid is rendered available in the soil. 



