518 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



48 (Wit), A^o. 1251, pp. .'loJ/, .'f.')o). — Au Jibstnict is given of a iJiiper read before 

 the Faraday Society, dealing especially with the manufacture of nitrogen com- 

 pounds from the air and showing the growth of this industry in Norway and 

 elsewhere. It is stated that during the i-ast year from 170,000 to 180,000 

 horsepower was used in the manufacture of nitrates (including nitrates of 

 calcium, sodium, and ammonium) and 20,000 horsepower in the manufacture 

 of calcium cyanamid. 



The preparation of a stable calcium cyanamid {German Patent No. 22.').119; 

 ahs. in Ztaehr. Anfjew. Vliem., 23 CnilO), No. .',8, pp. 2279, 2280; Intermit. Inst. 

 Agr. [Rome]. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 1911, No. 1, p. 67). — A process 

 of mixing calcium cyanamid with small quantities of fatty substances to im- 

 prove its mechanical condition and prevent absorption of water and decomposi- 

 tion is described. 



Tests of nitrite in pot and field experiments, B. Schultz {Fiihling's Landw. 

 Ztg., GO (1911), No. 10, pp. 346-351). — In comparative tests of calcium nitrite, 

 calcium nitrate, and sodium nitrate it was found that the yield of cereals was 

 reduced to a marlved extent in the case of calcium nitrite. The author con- 

 cludes, therefore, that nitrite is an objectionable constituent of commercial 

 calcium nitrate for fertilization purposes. 



The fertilizing value of so-called nitranimon-lime, II, H. G. Soderbaum 

 (K. Landthr. Akad. II audi, och Tidskr., 50 (1911). No. J,, pp. 335-351, figs. 6).— 

 In continuation of previous experiments (E. >S. R., 22, p. 432). the author 

 studied particularly the after effects of this material during a second season. 

 The effect of both phosphoric acid and nitrogen in the material was relatively 

 small, its fertilizing value depending primarily upon its lime content. 



Nitrogen and phosphorus as related to permanent; agriculture, C. H. Lane 

 (Bien. Bpt. Tenn. Dept. Agr., 1909-10, pp. SOi-307).— This article discusses 

 the need for nitrogen and phosphorus in middle Tennessee soils as indicated 

 by cooperative fertilizer experiments. 



Texas phosphates, W. D. Hornaday (Amer. Pert., 3// (1911), No. 8, p. .'i6). — 

 This is a brief note referring to reported discoveries of a large deposit near 

 Austin, Texas. 



Possible sources of potash, H. Erdmann (A1)S. in Engln. and Min. Jour., 91 

 (1911), No. 21, p. lO.'/.'t). — The author dismisses the salt deposits of France. 

 Austria, the Caspian region in Russia, and those of Tibet as unimportant on 

 account of the small pei-centage of potash present, but attributes greater im- 

 portance to the salt deposits of northwestern Mexico, Arizona, and the Salton 

 Sea region of southern California, which he estimates to contain at least 

 200.000.000 tons of potassium chlorid. A certain amount of potash may also 

 be obtained as a by-pi'odnct of the sodium nitrate industry of Chile. On the 

 whole, however, the author thinks " no considerable foreign competition threat- 

 ens the German potassium industry in the near future." 



Potash fertilizers, F. Brunerie (Jour. Agr: Prat., n. ser., 21 (1911), No. 5, 

 pp. I.'fl-l.'t3). — Summarizing the results of 5 years' field experiments, the 

 author concludes that the use of potash salts was profitable on a soil containing 

 0.01 per cent of potash and 0.008 per cent each of nitrogen and phosphoric acid 

 and with a variety of crops. 



A new method of using potash salts and other fertilizers, L. Hiltner 

 (Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesell., 26 (1911), No. 19, pp. 231-2.33).— Thi^ article 

 gives the results of comparative tests of kainit, calcium nitrate, magnesium 

 sulphate, ferrous sulphate, milk-of-lime, humus, and various other substances 

 applied to the above-ground poi-tion of potatoes and other crops, which indi- 

 cated a marked fertilizing effect from several of these substances applied in 

 this way. In other experiments potassium chlorid, sulphate, and phosphate 



