428 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



matei'ial at higher tempera lures reduced, still further its resistance to the decom- 

 position processes in the soil. At best, however, the availability of the humus 

 nitrogen was very low. The highest recovery of the applied nitrogen was only 

 7.17 per cent in the case of the sun-dry humus, and only 5.17 per cent in the 

 case of the bone-dry humus." 



The authors estimate on the basis of their results that the peat experimented 

 with is worth not more than $1 per ton as a fertilizer, " a price at which its 

 commercial exploitation could not be made profitable." It may be used more 

 profitably as a litter or fertilizer filler. " There is no objection to the use of 

 peat as a filler in complete fertilizers or as a diluent in incomplete fertilizers, 

 like dried blood, provided that no attempt is made to charge for the peat 

 nitrogen the same price that is charged for dried blood nitrogen. Unfortu- 

 nately this is exactly what is being done in many instances." 



The results with greensand marl were inconclusive and with the other 

 materials not of general interest. 



Experiments with different nitrogenous fertilizers for spring' grains and 

 root crops, F. Hansen {Tidsskr. Laiulhr. Planteavl, 17 {1910), No. 5, pp. 

 G93-731). — The fertilizers experimented with were nitrate of soda, Norway 

 saltpeter (calcium nitrate), calcium cyanamid, sulphate of ammonia, and liquid 

 manure. The experiments were conducted during the years 1904 to 1909 at 

 six of the Danish experiment stations. 



The average effects of the different systems of fertilization for all fields and 

 years were as follows, the value of the nitrate of soda being placed at 100 : 

 Norway saltpeter 79 and 88 for roots and spring grains resi)ectively, ammonium 

 sulphate 71 and 96, calcium cyanamid 42 and 74, and liquid manure 65 and 72. 

 The average effect of calcium cyanamid on fields in which the fertilizer was 

 plowed under was 68. 



The after effects of the various fertilizers observed during the season of 1910 

 were not marked, but appeared especially after calcium cyanamid and ammo- 

 nium sulphate. Cooperative trials with these fertilizer materials conducted 

 by county agricultural societies gave results that agreed well, on the whole, 

 with the averages obtained at the experiment stations. 



As to methods of application, nitrate of soda gave slightly better results 

 both for roots and small grains when one-half was plowed under and one-half 

 used as a top-dressing, while the largest yields were obtained with the other 

 mineral fertilizers when these were plowed under. 



Cyanamid in complete fertilizers (Amer. Pert., 34 {1911), No. 12, pp. Ji6, 

 Jfl). — Directions are given for the mixing of cyanamid with other fertilizing 

 materials in the preparation of complete fertilizers. A table is given which 

 shows the amounts of cyanamid which must be used to furnish different 

 percentages of ammonia in fertilizer mixtures. 



After effects of phonolite as a potash fertilizer, S. Rhodin {K. Landfbr. 

 Akad. Handl. ocli TkUlcr., 49 {1910), No. 8, pp. 691-695).— The after effects 

 of phonolite were studied with grass and green oats in three different series of 

 trials. The solubility of the potash was not found to have increased during 

 the second season, and both these experiments and recent trials conducted by 

 the Swedish Moor Culture Society show that ground phonolite can not replace 

 the Stassfurt salts, which are immediately available, effective, and cheaper 

 as potash fertilizers. 



Potash in China, L. Bergholz et al. {Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. [U. /Sf.], 

 14 {1911), No. 141, PIP- 1228, 1229). — Reports from consular agents in different 

 parts of China are given which show that there is considerable domestic trade 

 in potash derived from wood ashes in various Chinese provinces. An appa- 

 rently unverified report that potash deposits have been discovered in Shantung 



