122 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



sandy lupine soil, alumina and silica being ndded at rates of 3S5 and 234 gm., 

 respectively. Yellow lupines were srown in the pots. 



The results show that the alumina and silicic acid gels reduced the yield of 

 dry matter and the phosphoric acid content of the plant. Freezing and the 

 addition of calcium chlorid had no effect. Heating reduced the yield of dry 

 matter and probably the jihosphoric acid assimilation. The results indicated 

 that phosphoric acid did not enter into adsorplive but into chemical combina- 

 tion. 



Manganese causing- bare patches in soil (Af/r. Gaz. N. 8. Wales, 22 (1911), 

 No. 1, p. 70). — It is stated that superphosphate almost fully corrected the toxic 

 condition of soils in which an excess of manganese (0.24 per cent of Mn203) had 

 completely killed the grass. 



Manganese in field experiments, 11. Bartmann (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 

 20 (1910). No. Ifl, pp. 660. 667). — The results are given of tests with manganese 

 salts on the yields of turnips, beans, peas, Irish potatoes, corn, and sugar beets. 

 The yields of potatoes and sugar beets were found to be increased by the use 

 of the manganese salts, reaching the optimum when from 176 to 352 pounds 

 per acre was used. 



Columbus municipal garbage reduction plant, I. S. Osboen (Amen Fert., 

 34 (1911), No. 6, pp. Jf^-ltS, figs. 9). — The construction and operation of this 

 plant, which can dispose of 160 tons of garbage per day and produces as a final 

 product garbage tankage fertilizer valued at about .$10 per ton, are described. 

 The sale of this fertilizer and of the garbage grease obtained more than pays 

 the cost of operation of the plant. 



Fertilizer trade, B. F. Chase, F. I. Bright, and .J. White (DaUij Cons, and 

 Trade Rpts. [V. S.], Vf (1911), No. 67, pp. 109 Ji, 1095).— Statistics are given of 

 the fertilizer trade in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the United States. 



It is stated that the value of the fertilizer imports into the United States 

 during the year ended June 30. 1910, was $8,371,883, of the exports $8,700,640. 

 These figures "do not include imports (1) of nitrate of soda from Chile, which 

 amounted to $16,601,328 in the calendar year 1910. about one-third of which 

 was used for fertilizer, (2) of sulphate of ammonia, which amounted to 

 $4,668,820, chiefly from England, nor (3) potash, which amounted to $8,-363,623, 

 mainly from Germany, and a very large portion of which was used as fertilizer." 



Commercial fertilizers in the South (Amer. Fert., 34 (1911), No. 6, pp. 26, 

 27; Manfrs. Ree., 59 (1911), No. 11. p. //7). — The rapid increase in consumption 

 of fertilizers in the South is noted, and it is stated that 3,607,817 tons were 

 consumed in 12 southern States during 1910. 



Licensed commercial fertilizers, 1911, F. W. Woll (Wiscnnsin Sta. Circ. 

 Inform. 24, pp. 11, 12). — A list of manufacturers and brands licensed for the 

 year 1911. 



AGRICTJLTUEAL BOTANY. 



Action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the earth, A. V. Krainskii (Dnevn. 

 XII. 8"iesda Russ. Est.-Isp. i Vrach. [Moscoiv], 1910, No. 10, p. 652; abs. in 

 ZentW. Biochem. u. Biophys., 10 (1910), No. 17-18, pp. 817, 818; Clicm. Abs., 5 

 (1911), No-. 3, p. 556). — In experiments with different soils the author found 

 that the fixation of free nitrogen occurs in the soil by means of micro-organ- 

 isms. The greatest amount of fixation occurred in damp, but not wet, well 

 aerated, sandy soils where for one part of nitrogen assimilated, 90 parts of 

 carbon were used by the bacteria In sand cultures with Azotobacter chroococ- 

 ciim, it was found that 10 mg. of nitrogen were fixed per gram of mannite 

 consumed. 



