1030 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



0.4- to 2.28 per cent, the organic nitrogen soluV»le in water from 0.21 to 1.96 

 per cent, the organic nitrogen insoluble in water from 1.78 to 7.24 per cent, 

 and the total nitrogen from 5.01 to 9.98 per cent. It is pointed out that in 

 view of these wide variations in composition this material should be bought 

 only upon analysis. 



Fertilization of cane lands, F. B. Carpenter (La. Planter, 38 (1907), A'O. 

 7, p}}. 109, 110). — This is a paper which was read before the Louisiana Sugar 

 Planters' Association, discussing the soil and fertilizer requirements of sugar 

 cane, the best sources of plant food, and the best methods of mixing and apply- 

 ing fertilizers for this crop. The following general formula is recommended : 

 Available phosphoric acid G to 7 per cent, nitrogen 5 to 6 per cent, potash 3 to 4 

 per cent. " The materials, especially the nitrogen, should be selected so as to 

 give the growing crop a continuous supply of plant food and also to avoid 

 danger of large losses by heavy rainfalls." 



Report of the State chemist of Florida, 1905 and 1906, K. E. Rose [Buh 

 Fla. Ayr. Dcpt., 11 {1901), Ko. 1, pp. 12Ji). — This report deals mainly with 

 fertilizer and feeding-stuffs inspection and the fertilizer industry in the State, 

 but also discusses the preparation of insecticides and fungicides, the manu- 

 facture of cane sirup in the South, the production of Sumatra and Havana 

 tobacco, the need of a pure-food law, and the importance of developing farmers' 

 institutes and agricultural and technical education in the State. 



The analyses made during the year include 239 official samples of fertilizers, 

 231 samples of special fertilizers, 160 official samples of feeding stuffs, 37 

 special samples of feeding stuffs, and 135 samples of miscellaneous materials 

 (waters, minerals, soils, etc.). Of the 239 official samples of fei'tilizers the 

 average composition was, ammonia 3.89 per cent, available phosphoric acid 

 6.47 per cent, and potash 7.85 per cent, these percentages in every case being 

 slightly above the average guaranteed analyses. A number of formulas for 

 fertilizer mixtures for vegetables and for cotton are given. 



Fertilizer analyses, A. J. Patten and Dorothea Moxness (Michigan Sta. 

 Bid. 239, pp. lo). — Analyses of 134 brands representing the product of 21 firms 

 are reported. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. L. Hiixs and C. H. Jones (Termo))t Sta. Bid. 

 126, pp. J 7W/'>).— Analyses and valuations of samples representing 57 brands 

 are reported. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Seeds and plants imported during the period from December, 1903, to 

 December, 1905. Inventory No. 11, A. J. Pieters (V. S. Dcpt. Ayr.. Bur. 

 Plaid Indus. Bid. 91, pp. 255). — This inventory of seeds and plants imi)orted 

 by the Bureau of Plant Industry for experimental purposes covers the period 

 from December, 1903, to December, 1905, and embraces nearly 7,000 items. 

 It represents the collections of H. L. Bolley, E. A. Bessey, L. R. Jones, T. H. 

 Kearney, and others, and gives not only the names of the new introductions, 

 but also embodies notes made at the time of the collection by the agricultural 

 explorers. 



The relation of temperature and humidity to the germination of seed 

 of certain grasses, C. L>eneumostier (Bid. Ayr. [Brussels]. 22 (1006), No. 

 7, pp. 983-998). — Studies were made to determine the optimum temperatures 

 and moistures for the germination of the seed of Italian and perennial i\ve 

 grass, meadow fescue, tall oat grass, timothy, crested dogtail grass, and velvet 

 grass. 



For the rye grasses, meadow fescue, and tall oat grass the germination bed 



