SOILS FERTILIZERS. 121 



tiires containing as much as 2.5 per cent of nitrogen and 10 per cent of iwtasli 

 may be stored under severe weather conditions without serious deterioration in 

 mechanical condition providetl sulpiiate of potash is used. Mixtures containing 

 muriate of potash deteriorate in mechanical condition after having been stored 

 for a short time, 



A study of the composition, toxicity, and chemical and biological evolu- 

 tion of crude ammonia, A. Demolon and G. Brouet (8ta. Agron. Aisne Bill., 

 JtUO, pp.' 92-1 18). — Crude ammonia, a by-product of gas manufacture, is stated 

 to be a complex mixtui*e of various forms of nitrogen, the most important being 

 ferrocyanids. Sulphocyanids are sometimes present in small amounts. Sul- 

 phur, much of it in free state, is always an important constituent of the 

 material. 



The crude ammonia is practically unaffected by such natural physical agencies 

 as moisture, oxygen of the air, etc. It varies in toxic properties largely in 

 proportion to the amount of sulphocyanids present. The toxicity disappears 

 slowly in moist air. but more rapidly in contact with the soil. The ammoniacal 

 nitrogen in the crude ammonia is readilj* assimilated by micro-oiJganisms. The 

 sulphocyanids are more slowly disposed of in this way, while the ferrocyanids 

 are still more resistant. 



Preliminary report on the peat deposits of Florida, K. M. Harper (Fla. 

 Geol. Survey Ann. Rpt., 3 (1910), pp. 101-366, pis. 13, figs, i//),— This report 

 deals with the conditions of formation, distribution, classification, composition, 

 and utilization of the peat deposits of Florida. The use of these peat deposits 

 for fertilizer and fertilizer filler and as agricultural soils is referred to. A 

 bibliograiihy of the subject is given. 



Potash salts of Galicia, F. J. Maciialske (Amer. Fert., S.'f {1911), No. 6, 

 pp. 11-23). — The potash deposits of Galicia are described and compared with 

 those of Germany. It is shown that large and rich deposits of potash salts 

 occur in the eastern part of Galicia, especially in the vicinity of Kalusz, and 

 that conditions are now favorable for their exploitation. 



A preliminary paper on the Florida phosphate deposits, E. H, Sellards 

 {Fla. Gcol. Survcu Ann. Rpt.. 3 (1010). pp. ll--'il, pis. 5).— The hard rock 

 and land pel)ble phosi)hate deposits are described and statistics of the Florida 

 phosphate industry for 1909 are given. 



Phosphate deposits [of Egypt] (Bd. Trade Jour. [London'i, 12 (1911), No. 

 I.'i6, pp. 513, 57 {).— Brief accounts are given of deposits in the Nile Valley, 

 the Red Sea hills, and the Dakhla Oasis. These phosphates are as a rule of 

 low grade but may become commercially impoi'tant. 



Constitution of Thomas slag, H. Blome (Metallurgie, 1 (1010), pp. 659- 

 661, 698-105; Stahl u. Eisen, 30 (1010), p. 2161; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chcm. Indus., 

 29 (1910), No. 2.',, p. 1J,61; CJiem. ZIg., 35 (1911), No. 21, Re pert., p. 78).— The 

 author investigated the cause of the increase in citrate solubility resulting 

 from the fusion of Thomas slag with sand. He succeeded in producing a 

 fusion of tetracalcium phosphate and calcium orthosilicate which was prac- 

 tically completely soluble in 2 per cent citric acid. His investigations indicate 

 that this increase in solubility is due to the formation of the double compound 

 shown by Stead and Ridsdale to have the composition of 4CaO, P205+Si02 

 with a melting point of 1,700° C, 



On the action of an addition of aluraina and silicic-acid gels to the soil 

 on the assimilation of phosphoric acid by plants, T, Pfeiffer and E. Blanck 

 (Mitt. Landiv. Inst. Breslau, 6 (1911), No. 2, pp. 3/5-324 ) -—Experiments are 

 here reported in which pots containing 17 kg. of pure sand received a basic 

 fertilizer of 3 gm, of potassium phosphate and 50 cc, of water extract from a 



