630 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



rays are further able to convert nitrates into nitrites, and ttiey decompose con- 

 centrated solutions of ammonium nitrite with liberation of nitrogen." 



Commercial production of ammonia, C. G. Tufts {Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 3 {1911), No. 5, pp. 295-299) .—The article describes briefly 5 methods 

 which are commercially important in recovering ammonia from coal formations, 

 namely, by means of the gas retort, the by-product coke oven, the Mond gas 

 producer, distillation of shales, and blast furnaces. It is stated that by these 

 methods the world now secures about 1,000,000 tons annually of ammonia 

 measured as sulphate, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States pro- 

 ducing about 80 per cent of this amount. The United States product is de- 

 rived mainly from the by-product coke oven. 



The article also briefly refers to the synthesis of ammonia from the nitrogen 

 of the air. 



In conclusion the author states that " the old gas retort is gradually losing 

 gi'ound while the output of the coke oven is increasing by leaps and bounds. 

 Meanwhile, in the manufacture of synthetic ammonia and nitric acid, we seem 

 standing on the threshold of a period of .such chemical and electrochemical 

 activity as the world has rarely seen." 



[Production of ammonium sulphate in England] {Chem. Trade Jour., 49 

 {1911), No. 1259, pp. 21, 22). — The total production of ammonium sulphate in 

 the United Kingdom during 1910 is stated to have been 367.587 tons. Of this 

 amount 167,820 tons w^as obtained from gas works, 20,139 tons from iron 

 works, 59,113 tons from shale works, 92,665 tons from coke-oven works, and 

 27,850 tons from producer-gas and carbonizing works. 



Preparation of calcium cyanamid and its uses as a manurial agent {Bui. 

 Imp. Inst. [So. Kensington], 9 {1911), Nos. 1, pp. 44-51; 2, i)p. 123-134; abs. m 

 Amer. Pert., 35 {1911), No. 7, pp. 34-40). — This article gives an account of the 

 manufacture of calcium cyanamid and general information regarding its use as 

 a fertilizer, and summarizes the results of field trials on wheat, barley, oats, 

 corn, rice, potatoes, turnips, sugar beets, sugar cane, grasses, hemp, flax, cotton, 

 tobacco, hops, grapes, olives, and onions. 



The general conclusions are " that calcium cyanamid can either be harrowed 

 in or applied as a top-dressing, but in most cases the former method gives the 

 better result. The quantity applied should be between 25 and 45 lbs. of nitrogen 

 per acre or 1 to 2 cwt. of cyanamid containing 20 per cent nitrogen. It appears 

 to be advisable to apply the manure when the soil is wet or when there is a 

 prospect of rain. 



"As a general rule it may be stated that from the results of experiments the 

 manurial value of calcium cyanamid is about equal to that of sulphate of 

 ammonia when the culture is carried out on a fairly good soil, but is inferior 

 on poor moorland or sandy soil. The beneficial effects of its application are 

 more noticeable when applied to crops which especially need nitrogen for their 

 successful cultivation ; but on soils requiring lime as well as nitrogen, calcium 

 cyanamid is likely to give a better return than sulphate of ammonia or nitrate 

 of soda, especially during the second season when the effect of this lime is more 

 noticeable than during the season of application." 



Reference is made to the fact that in order to avoid trouble from dustiness a 

 small amount of shale oil is added to the cyanamid. 



Potash from feldspar, B. Heestein {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., S 

 {1911), No. 6, pp. 426-428). — A process of heating finely ground feldspar in a 

 solution of calcium chlorid with subsequent addition of limestone with a view 

 of producing cement and potash salts is described. The process differs from 

 that of Lawrence Smith in the direct use of calcium chlorid, thus utilizing a 

 valueless waste product and correspondingly cheapening the process. It is esti- 



