228 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



is scarce. It is not siiitaldc for rapidly firowiufX crops, but may be used in 

 orchards and in j^cncral wliere a fertilizer of slow action is desired. 



Report of the fertilizer division, II. I). IIaskins iM(issachu.srtts t<i(i. Riit. 

 1908, lit. ,i. pp. JN-i7.).— A l)rief account is here given of fertilizer inspection 

 and of the e.\aniination of materials sent to the station by farmers and farmers' 

 organizations. During the spring of 1!)0S, 624 samples of fertilizers represent- 

 ing 400 distinct brands were collected and 454 samples were examined. The 

 increase in the use of high grade fertilizers is noted and commended. 



The inspection of commercial fertilizers in 1907 {Rpt. Bd. Agr. [N. 11.], 

 30 {I'.IOJ-S), pp. J.';,S-J/,i).— The results of inspection of 94 brands of mixed 

 fertilizers and samples of chemicals offered for sale in New Hampshire are 

 reported. Of the fertilizers examined. 20 brands were found to be deficient in 

 one or more constituents to an extent which would reduce theii- value below that 

 of the guaranty. The deficiencies, however, appeared to be accidental rather 

 than intentional. 



Analyses and valuations of commercial fertilizers, C. S. Cathcart et al. 

 (New Jersey tSias. Hid. 22.3. pp. J-J.9). — This bulletin reports analyses and valu- 

 ations of 498 samples of fertilizers representing .30.5 commercial brands and 

 including also 130 samples of fertilizer supplies, 10 home mixtures, and 35 

 special compounds. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, W. Frear (Penn. Dept. Agr. Bills. 173, 

 pp. 57; 185, pp. 87). — These bulletins contain reports of the inspection of fer- 

 tilizers in the State from August 1. 1908, to August 1, 1909, and include analyses 

 of 1,105 samples of fertilizing materials. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



The influence of various salts on the germination of corn, Olga and 

 Elizabeth Chudinui (Isv. Moskov. ^elsk. Khoz. Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. 

 Moscou), 15 (1909), No. 2, pp. 230-23.',, figs. 2, dgm. i).— The experiments 

 described by the authors were undertaken to determine the influence of calcium 

 salts on the germination of seed, the results being supplemented by a study 

 of the role of other connnon nutrient substances. The experiments were carried 

 on with corn in modified water cultures, comparisons being made of the growth 

 in distilled water, a complete nutrient solution, and solutions lacking various 

 elements, such as lime, nitrogen, potash, phosphorus, and magnesia. 



The seedlings were grown for 10 or 20 day periods, at the end of which time 

 they were collected, the cotyledons separated from them, and both dried. The 

 length of stems and roots was measured, and those collected at the end of the 

 10-day period, when the reserve material of the seed was not yet exhausted, 

 indicated that calcium plays a more important role than the other elements, 

 inasmuch as its absence from the nutrient media resulted in the least growth. 

 At the end of the 20-day period the results were still more striking, the solution 

 deficient in lime giving the least growth of any of the solutions, and even less 

 than that produced In distillcvl water. 



Influence of electricity on micro-organisms, G. E. Stone ( Bot. Gaz., Ji8 

 (1909), No. 5, lip. 359-379, figs. 2). — The results of investigations showing the 

 influence of electricity on the growth and multiplication of micro-organisms are 

 given. The studies were carried on to determine the influence of electricity 

 on bacteria in water, milk, and soils, as well as the influence of electrical stimu- 

 lation on yeasts. 



The studies with water were taken up primarily to determine the possibility 

 of obtaining pure water by means of electricity, but it was soon found that 

 instead of a decrease in the bacterial content there was an increase from the 



