SOILS- — FERTILIZERS, 823 



coarser Quirklinio and also that ground liiuestoiic is a iiioro i)ro(ital)Ie dressing 

 than either sroniid lime or coai'se ([iiieklinie. 



Investigations on the action of lime nitrogen on various kinds of soil, 

 T. Kemy (Landw. Juhrh., 35 (1906), Sui). 4, jrp. 114-133, pis. 2; abs. in Deut. 

 I. a 11(1 w. I'rcssc, 3-'/ {1907), .\o. 0, />. .'/O). — A series of pot experiments on the 

 utilization of the nitrogen of this material, its injurious action on the growth 

 of plants, and its effect on the hacterial life of the soil is reported, from which 

 llu' following conclusions are draw ii : 



The e'thciency of this sourci^ of nili'ogen depends largely niton the character 

 (if the soil upon which il is used. It is most ellicieul on clayey soils,- being in 

 this case but little inlVrior to niti-ate of soda. On such soils injurious effects 

 are not observed even when the mateiial is ajtplied in comparatively large 

 amounts. Much less favoraltle i-esulls, however, w«'re obtained on sandy soils. 

 In this c;ise the ulili/',;it ion of the nitrogen was nuich less complete and rapid 

 than on heavy soils, comparing in these respects more nearly with blood meal. 

 Kven in amounts not exceeding the usual api)lications of such materials the 

 lime nitrogen showed an injurious effect on germination and growth of plants 

 on such soils. The injurious effect was especially marked in the case of the 

 nitrogen-collecting bacteria ( Azotobacter) of the soil. The length of time 

 through which the injurious effect will continue was not definitely deternnned. 

 In the experiments reported by the- author the effect on germination had entirely 

 disappeared at the end of 3 months. The results indicate in general that lime 

 nitrogen should be used with caution on light soils. 



Some experiments on the action of lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime on 

 cultivated plants, l\ Mach {Filhling's Landiv. Ztg., 55 { 19011), No. 2'i, pp. 

 f<30-i'<-'j7). — Pot experiments extending over -i years to test the relative fertil- 

 izing value of these materials are reported with barley, nuistard, carrots, and 

 buckwheat. 



The "nitrogen lime" used was that prepared by the I'olzenins jtrocess of 

 fixing free nitrogen by passing it over a heated nnxture of calcium carbid and 

 calcium chlorid. It contained about 22 per cent of nitrogen, while the lime 

 nitrogen with which it was compared contained about 18 per cent of nitrogen. 



The results showed in general that the two fertilizers were about equally 

 effective and that the nitrogen was equally well utilized by the crop in each 

 case. As a rule no appreciable injurious effect was observed from either source. 



Experiments with nitrogen lime, B. Hardt (Deut. Landw. Prcsse, 34 

 (1907), A'o. 5, pp. 29, 30). — Cooperative tests by farmers under different condi- 

 tions of soil, cropping, etc., are briefly reported. 



The results were in general favorable to the use of the material as a fertilizer, 

 especially when applied some time before planting of the crop and thoroughly 

 incorjiorated with the soil. It gave good results on sandy soils wlien these were 

 not acid. On old cultivated lands it gave best results when the soil had pre- 

 viously been well fertilized with barnyard manure. JNIoor soils should he well 

 limed before the application of this material. 



Nitrate of soda statistics (Saateti, Diingcr v. Fiittermarkt, 1907. .Yo. 3, 

 p. 77). — Statistics of production and consumption of this material from 1897 to 

 100(5 are sumnnirized. The world's Consumiition during inO(! is given as 1.639,o00 

 tons, of wliich 1.241.400 tons was used in Europe and .".(".1,000 tons in the T'nited 

 States. 



Wholesale nianufacture of nitrate fertilizer, t'. M. I'icppeu (Da Hi/ Con- 

 siihir (111(1 'I'rfKic h'jitx. [ r. S.]. 1907, Xo. 27(i<l. pii. 3. //). — A brief note is given 

 referring to the iiros])ective utilization oi" (he .Ihelinn ltiv(>r in Kashmir, India, 

 in the maniffiicture of lime niter for fertilizing purposes by the Norwegian 



