SOILS — FERTILIZERS. 629 



Fertilizer experiments, W. Van Deventee and P. W. Houtman (Meded. 

 Proefsiat. Juiu-Suikerindus., 1911, No. 9, pp. 143-242) .—This article reports the 

 results of a large number of fertilizer experiments on sugar cane conducted 

 during 1910 at the Java sugar experiment stations to test the action of ammo- 

 nium sulphate at different stages of growth of crop, and as compared with stable 

 manure and in combination with a nitrogenous fertilizer (boeugldl), super- 

 phosphate, potash applied alone and with nitrogeneous fertilizers, and organic 

 matter, sand and stable manure on heavy soils, molasses, lime waste, green 

 manures, and ashes. 



Among the more important results obtained it is stated that heavy applica- 

 tions of aniniouium sulphate gave better returns than lighter applications. 

 Potash fertilizers when applied either alone or with organic matter gave little 

 or no returns. Sand did not improve the physical condition of heavy soils; 

 stable manure, however, gave good returns thereon. 



Molasses fertilizers were very efficient on light soils. 



Lime waste, which contained from 60 to 70 per cent lime carbonate, gave very 

 good returns on both light and heavy soils. Green manures gave excellent 

 results, more particularly on soils where the heavy applications of ammonium 

 sulphate had little or no effect on the growth of cane. Ashes appeared to give 

 excellent action on soils poor in phosphoric acid, although the results obtained 

 were not conclusive. 



New fertilizers, M. Hoffmann (Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesell., 26 {1911), No. 

 28, pp. 886-389). — This article briefly describes and discusses the fertilizing 

 value of aluminum nitrogen, calcium nitrate, calcium cyanamid, Palmaer phos- 

 phate, Bernard phosphate, phonolite, zeolite fertilizer, and various other sub- 

 stances which have recently been proposed as fertilizers. 



On various nitrogenous fertilizers, G. Ampola (Ann. R. Staz. Chim. Agr, 

 Sper. Roma, 2. scr., Jf (1910), pp. 13-115). — ^This article gives the results of 

 chemical studies of the behavior of sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, cal- 

 cium cyanamid, and calcium nitrate when mixed with Thomas slag and super- 

 phosphate. Results are also given of field tests as to the fertilizing effect of 

 these nitrogenous fertilizers. 



The utilization of nitrogen, F. Habee (Verhandl. Nat line. Ver. Karlsruhe, 

 28 (1909-10), pp. 17-80, fig. i).— This article deals particularly with the au- 

 thor's apparatus and method for the synthesis of ammonia, but also with the 

 efiiciency of different methods of fixing nitrogen as cyanamid and nitric acid. 



The fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, Bonnefoi (Mem. Soc. Acad. Agr., 

 Set., Arts et Belles-Lettres Aiibe, 8. ser., Ifi (1910), pp. 881-393).— The processes 

 of manufacture of calcium cyanamid and calcium nitrate are described, with a 

 short bibliography of the subject. 



Nitrification by ultraviolet rays, D. Beethelot and H. Gatjdechon (Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris'], 152 (1911), No. 9, pp. 522-524; abs. in Jour. Soc. 

 Chem. Indus., 30 (1911), No. 6, p. 377; Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome'], Bui. Bur. 

 Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 1911, No. 3, pp. 528, 529). — " Solutions were ex- 

 posed, at a temperature of 35 to 50° C, for from 3 to 9 hours at a distance of 3 

 to G cm. from a lamp of 110 volts. Under these conditions the ultraviolet rays 

 oxidized solutions of ammonia in presence of pure oxygen or of air to nitrites. 

 Nitrates were in no case formed. Ammonium salts were also oxidized to 

 nitrites, the reaction being slower in the cases of the sulphate and chlorid than 

 in that of the carbonate. Urea was also converted first into ammonia and then 

 into nitrite. Other organic nitrogen compounds, e. g., ethyl and methylaniiu, 

 guanidin, hydroxylamin, acetamid, acetonitrile, etc., behaved similarly. Stress 

 is laid on the close analogy between the effects of the rays and of enzyms. The 



