SOILS FERTILIZERS. 727 



Manuring" experiments with, peat, A. I. Dreiman (ZemledQlets, 1910, No. 3; 

 abs. in Zhur. Opyiii. Agron. {liuss. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 {1910), No. 6, pp. 

 867, 868; Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Dis- 

 eases, 2 {1911), No. 3, pp. 527, 528). — lu experiments with peat alone and in 

 combination with bone ash, Thomas slag, potash salts, and sodium nitrate on 

 barley grown on sandy soils, it was found that peat alone nearly doubled the 

 yield of grain but that peat mixed with Thomas slag, potash salts, and sodium 

 nitrate did not give as large a yield as a complete mineral fertilizer without 

 peat. 



The hygroscopicity of certain new nitrogenous fertilizers, H. von Fellitzen 

 and I. LuGNEB {Fi/hling's Landw. Ztg., 60 {1911), No. 16, pp. 563-568, dgms. 

 2). — In comparatiA'e tests of samples of Norwegian nitrate and lime nitrogen 

 mixtures, equal parts of the two, and of 2 of lime nitrogen to 1 of Norwegian 

 nitrate, ammonium sulphate, and sodium nitrate, it was found that all of the 

 substances gained cousiderable moisture in a period of one month, the most 

 hygroscopic being the mixture of 2 parts of lime nitrogen to 1 of Norwegian 

 nitrate, the least hygroscopic lime nitrogen. The Norwegian nitrate and lime 

 nitrogen and both mixtures of the two gained in weight in dry air, the 2 : 1 

 mixtui-e showing the largest gain. 



Some fertilizer experiments with different potash minerals, H. von Feilit- 

 ZEN {Dent. Lundic. Presse, 38 {1911), No. 63, pp. 737, 738, flg. i).— The author 

 reports the results of pot and field experiments conducted during 1910 with 

 barley and field peas on moor soils to determine the relative action of phonolite, 

 nephelite, feldspar, and a so-called powdered "aluminite" as compared with 

 the 38 per cent Stassfurt potash salt. 



He concludes that although phonolite and nephelite gave an appreciable ac- 

 tion, they were far inferior to the Stassfurt salt both in point of yield and pot- 

 ash assimilation. Feldspar and the powdered " aluminite " gave such inferior 

 yields as to merit no consideration. 



A new mineral yielding potassium sulphate {Engrais, 26 {1911), No. 10, p. 

 272; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Dis- 

 eases, 2 {1911), No. 3, p. 535). — Attention is called to the discovery in the 

 Province of Almeria, Spain, of a mineral which by calcination and washing 

 yields from 25 to 30 per cent of potassium sulphate. It is called " Galafatite." 



The German potash industry, T. J. Albert {Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. S.], l-'i {1911), No. 172, p. 377; Engin. and Min. Jour., 92 {1911), No. 6, p. 

 252). — It is stated that "at the conference held recently at Hamburg between 

 the conflicting interests, German and American, in the potassium industry, an 

 agreement has been reached as to prices and rebates. The agreement has a 

 duration of 5^ years. During this period the American purchasers of potash 

 obligate themselves to make all purchases from the potassium syndicate. The 

 probability of the market being disturbed by outside mines is thought to be 

 remote, as such outsiders would have to organize a sales agency in the United 

 States similar to the German Kali Syndicate, which delivers potash salts 

 directly to the buyer. Such an organization would be expensive and difficult to 

 effect. 



" The basis of prices is practically the same for concentrated salts as that 

 contained in the potassium law, and the same as prevailed in America in 1909 

 before the syndicate was renewed and before the Schmidtmann contracts went 

 into force." 



Potash residues as manure, L. Sapartovitch {Khoziaistvo, 6 {1911), No. 3, 

 pp. 69-71; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant 

 Diseases, 2 {1911), No. 3, pp. 53.'i, 535). — This article gives analyses and dis- 

 cusses the fertilizing value of leached wood ashes obtained as residues from 



