432 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



with snli)lint«> of ;inini(iiiia :tntl iilso willi iiypsuiu mIoiu". In the spcond oxperi- 

 iiient, on sniuly soil, tlio cnult' niiiuionia showed a positive action j^reater when 

 applied in the fall than in the sprinj;. In the third ex()erinient, on elayey- 

 sandy soil, the crude ammonia showed u decided advantage over suli)hate, of 

 annnonia, as did also the jiyjisum, the gypsum heing superior to the crude 

 ammonia. In an experiment with wheat the crude ammonia was superior to 

 nitrate of soda and (o fiyjisum hii( all were inferior to no fertilization. 



The conclusion is drawn that crude annnonia is used to better advantage on 

 ])onr soils. 



On the fertilizer value of so-called nitrammon-lime (poudrette), II. (i. 

 SiiuKKHAUM (K. Landthr.Ahad. JJaiull. och Tidskr., J,8 {190D), No. 5, pp. JiJ,2-J,r}9, 

 fiys. 5; Mc'ddel. Ccntralanst. Forsoksr. Jordbruksomrudct, No. 11, pp. 20, fiys. 

 o). — -This material i^ manufactured in Swedish cities by treatment of the 

 night soil with quicklime. The analyses given range from 10.2 to 30.5 per 

 cent moisture, 0.53 to 1.36 tier cent phosphoric acid, 30.29 to 47.4 per cent lime, 

 0.25 to 0.G8 per cent potash, 0.25 to 0.5 per cent total nitrogen, and 0.007 to 

 0.08 per cent ammonia. 



Fertilizer trials were made with the poudrette on oats grown in glass cylin- 

 ders w^hich were filled with a sandy soil very low in nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid. The results showed that the fertilizer effect of the poudrette is dependent 

 primarily^ on its lime content. The potash pi'oved of some benefit, but the- 

 phosphoric acid, being present in the form of triphosphate, was but slightly 

 available. Neither the nitrogen in the poudrette nor its organic substance 

 appeared to affect appreciably the yields secured, a result that is quite contrary 

 to the claims made for the fertilizer by the manufacturers. 



A better method of use of nitrate of soda, L. Decaux (Engrais, 2-i {1909), 

 No. 51, pp. l-il9-l.'i23). — In experiments with sugar beets and fodder beets the 

 best results were obtained by ap])lying the nitrate in one ai)plication before 

 jilanting and thoroughly mixing it with the soil. 



Observations on the assimilation of potash and nitrogen by fodder beets 

 after fertilizing' with manure and commercial fertilizer, A. Stutzer {Mitt. 

 Dcut. Lund a: GcscU., 2't (1909), No. 50, pp. 738, 7'jy ) .—Experiments with 

 fodder beets gave results confirming the conclusion of Schneidewind (E. S. R., 

 IG, p. 454) that the assimilation of potash and nitrogen is largely increased by 

 adding nitrate of soda to stable manure in the fertilizing of beets. 



The occurrence of ammonia and nitrate in deposits of potash salts, 

 W. Bii.Tz [Zt.schr. AnoKjun. Chcm., 6'f {1909), No. 2, pp. 215, 216; ahs. in Chrm. 

 Ztg., 33 {1909), No. 138, Rcpert., p. 59/).— Analyses of a sample of potash salt 

 from the Schonebeck deposits are reported, showing the presence of consider- 

 able amounts of ammonia and nitrate. The amount of ammonia, 0.05 per cent, 

 was practically the same as that found in recent examinations of sea water. 

 The figures for ammonia in sea water given in a previous paper (E. S. R., 21, 

 p. 721 ) were based upon old analyses and are believed to be much too high. 



A new potash fertilizer, L. Haumont (Jour. Soc. Agr. Brabant et Ilainaut, 

 5.'f {1909), No. 51, pp. 1196, 1191). — This article describes and gives the results 

 of various experiments which have been made with phonolite (lava meal), in- 

 cluding those of Wagner. Hiltner (E. S. R.. 20. p. 1022; 22, p. 324). and the 

 German Agricultural Society, all showing the decided inferiority of the phono- 

 lite as compared with ordinary potash salts. 



Will potash be cheaper? {Amer. Agr., 8-) {1909), No. 24, pp. 592, 593).— It is 

 thought that following the disruption of the potash syndicate in Germany 

 and the acquisition of control of certain of the German mines by American in 

 terests the prospects for lower j)rices for potash are good. 



