24 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



iisiiiK nil- and 13.5 to 14 per cent when usins a 50 per cent mixture of oxygen 

 and nitropon fias. 



The fixation of the nitrogen of the air, P.aciimann (Naturw. Wctinschr., 

 26 (1011), No. 5, pp. 65-69). — A'arious i)rocosses which have been devised for 

 this purpose are described and the importance of the fixation of nitrogen in 

 relation to increasing means of supporting life is discussed. 



The knowledge of lime nitrogen, N. Caro {Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 23 (1910), 

 No. 51, pp. 2.'t05-2/,17; aU. in Chem. Ztg., 35 (1011), No. 8, Repcrt., p. 32).— The 

 results of investigations on the following subjects are summarized : The silver 

 salts of cyanamid and dicyandiamid, the quantitative separation and determi- 

 nation of cyanamid and dicyandiamid, the determination of urea in lime nitro- 

 gen, the determination of cyanid in the presence of cyanamid and dicyandiamid, 

 the action of cyanid on carbid, the action of carbon dioxid on lime nitrogen, 

 the action of nitrogen on carbid and alumina, the preparation of pure cyanamid 

 out of its salts, and the action of nitrogen on a mixture of barytes and lime 

 and the influence of added substances on the carbid-forming mixture. 



Potash salts: Their uses and occurrence in the United States, W. O. 

 Phalen (U. 8. Geol. Survey, Advance Chapter from Mineral Resources of the 

 United States, Calendar Year 1010, pp. 2Ji). — This article discusses the German 

 potash deposits, the uses made of potash salts, the value of the imports into the 

 United States, and the possible sources of potash in the United States. 



It is stated that the United States imported $11,000,000 worth of potash salts 

 during 1910. A large proportion of these salts is used in the manufacture of 

 fertilizers. The possible sources of potash in the United States referred to 

 are igneous rocks, gi-een sand marls, waters of salt lakes in various parts of 

 the West, alkali deposits, salt deposits in Michigan and elsewhere, wood ashes, 

 seaweed, wool scourings. and beet-sugar molasses and residues. 



The potash industry and the American farmer, A. B. Reeve (Amer. Rev. 

 of Reviews, Ji3 (1011). No. 253, pp. 212-214, fig. 0-— This article describes 

 briefly the potash deposits of Germany and discusses the conditions leading up 

 to and involved in the controversy between the German producers and Amer- 

 ican purchasers of potash. 



Potash for over 600,000 years (Amer. Fert., 34 (1911), No. 3, pp. 20, 21).— 

 This is a translation of an article by Ochseuius, published some time ago, in 

 which it is estimated that the potash deposits of Germany are sufficient to 

 supply the needs of the world for over 000,000 years. 



Other potash deposits (Amer. Fert., 34 (1911), No. 3, pp. S4-S6).— This is a 

 translation of au article by II. Erdmann (E. S. R., 22, p. 718) describing the 

 location, extent, and probable commercial value of the known deposits of potash 

 salts outside of Germany. 



Phonolite as a fertilizer, M. Popp (Mitt. Dent. Landw. Gesell., 26 (1911), 

 No. 5, pp. 52-57).— Experiments begun in 1909 (E. S. R., 22, p. 325) were con- 

 tinued in 1910 to study the after-effects of phonolite as compared with potash 

 salts. 



The results confirm the conclusions from the earlier experiments and show 

 that phonolite is in no way comparable with potash salts as a fertilizer. The 

 results the second year were no better than in the year previous. The potash 

 in the phonolite was for the two years about 50 per cent as effective as that of 

 potash salts. 



Feldspar as a source of potash, F. J. Machalske (Am,er. Fert., 34 (1911), 

 No. 5, pp. 17-20).— The principal potash feldspars and the various processes for 

 rendering the potash available which have been patented are described. 



Florida phosphate industry in 1910, C. G. Memminger (Engin. and Mi/n. 

 Jour., 91 (1911), No. 5, p. 264).— It is stated that little of commercial or techni- 



