322 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



brief iiopuliir suniniary of (he more recent investij,'!ilinns on this subject with 

 special reference to horticultural crops. 



Debated fertilizer questions, Sciineidewind {/Aschr. Angcw. Chem., 23 

 (1910), No. 12, pp. 567, 568). — The questions briefly discussed in this article are 

 soil robbery, sodium nitrate versus ammonium sulphate as a fertilizer, the most 

 efficient forms of phosphoric acid and potash, and the lime-magnesia ratio in 

 soils. 



The purchase and home mixing of fertilizers, F. W. Taylor (New Hamp- 

 shire Sta. Circ. 12, pp. 2-12). — This circular explains how to interpret a fer- 

 tilizer guaranty and the advantages of high-grade as compared with low-grade 

 fertilizers and of home mixing of fertilizers, and gives directions for home mix- 

 ing with formulas for different crops. 



On the value of peat litter, J. J. Tylvad (Hedeselsk. Tidsskr., 1911, No. 7, 

 pp. 7i-83). — ^A description is given of the method of manufacture and of Danish 

 experiments with peat litter as an absorbent for liquid manure. It is shov^m that 

 losses of nitrogen in liquid manure can be entirely avoided by the use of suffi- 

 cient quantities of peat litter as an absorbent. 



A new ammonia salt (Saaten, Danger u. Futlcrmarkt, 1911, No. S, pp. 219, 

 220; abs. in Jour. Ayr. Prat., n. ser., 21 {1911). No. 10, pp. 300, 301; Bettcrave, 

 21 (1911), No. 527, pp. 103, lOJ/). — This article briefly describes a cheap process 

 for preparing a by-product of gas manufacture consisting mainly of ammonium 

 sulphite and sulphate. Experiments are cited in which good results were 

 obtained with this material in comparison with ammonium sulphate in fertilizer 

 experiments on wheat, rye, oats, barley, potatoes, beets, and grass. 



Nitrate industry of Chile, H. P. Fletcher (Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. S.], U (1911). No. 9-'f, j)p. 3-'tO, 3.'/i).— Statistics furnished by the Nitrate 

 Propaganda are quoted, showing a production of 2,607,000 tons during 1910 

 as compared with 2,275,559 tons in 1909. The estimated production for 1911 

 is 2,794,000 tons. 



The importance of phonolite as a potash fertilizer, T. Pfeiffer, E. Blanck, 

 and M. Flugel (Mitt. Landw. Inst. Breslau, 6 (1911), No. 2, pp 233-272; abs. 

 m Deut. LandiD. Prcssc, 3S (1911), No. 8, pp. 79, 80; Ztschr. Angcw. Chem., 24 

 (1911), No. 17, pp. 80Ji, 805). — This article reviews other investigations on the 

 fertilizing value of potassium silicate and reports pot and field experiments, 

 comparing phonolite with potash salts on various crops. Incidentally tests 

 were also made of humus-silicic acid. The results agree in showing a certain 

 fertilizing value for this material, although it was much less effective than the 

 potash salts. No beneficial effect resulted from the u§e of the humus-silicie 

 acid. 



Various experiments with raw phosphates, D. N. Prianishnikov et al. 

 (Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 17 (1911), No. 1, 

 pp. I-I4I, figs. 16). — This article reports trials of various methods of preparing 

 superphosphates from different kinds of Russian phosphates as well as tests 

 of the raw phosphates on different crops in sand cultures. 



Experiments with bone meal, D. N. Prianishnikov et al. (Izv. Moskov. 

 Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 17 (1911), No. 1, pp. H2-176, 

 figs. 8). — The experiments here reported indicate that bone meal is more 

 sensitive to the conditions under which it is used than superphosphate or 

 Thomas slag. The efficiency of the material as a fertilizer was reduced by the 

 addition of calcium carbonate, and increased by the addition of ammonium 

 salts and by the substitution of nitrogen obtained from the air through 

 leguminous plants for nitrate nitrogen. When nitrate nitrogen was used better 

 results were obtained by applying it separately than with the bone meal. The 

 bone meal gave better results in larger pots more abundantly supplied with 



