518 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



while calcium cyanamid is a useful nitrogenous fertilizer it should not be 

 applied as a top-dressing but spread evenly and worked into the surface soil at 

 least ten days before the crop is sown. 



Synthetic ammonia by the Serpek method, Herre {Chem. Ztg., 38 (1914), 

 Nos. 29, pp. 317, SIS; 31, pp. S^l-SU, flff- i).— The development and Industrial 

 value of this method is discussed. A short bibliography of the subject is given. 



Experiments with nitrogenous fertilizers, E. Haselhoff {Landw. Vers. 

 Stat., 84 (1914), No. 1-2, pp. 1-55). — Five years' field experiments with different 

 crops and soils were made to determine the relative fertilizing value of lime 

 nitrogen, nitrogen lime, urea and guanadin and their nitrates, calcium nitrate 

 with and without free lime, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium ni- 

 trate, sodium nitrite, ammonium sulphate. Burkheiser salt, and galalith waste 

 are reported. 



The effect of the different fertilizing substances varied with the time and 

 method of application, the season, and the kind of crop. In general, sodium 

 nitrate and ammonium sulphate were about equal in effect, better results being 

 obtained on loam soil than on sand, and from deep and fall applications rather 

 than from surface and spring applications. Calcium nitrate was equal to and 

 sometimes superior to sodium nitrate and gave better results on sand than on 

 loam. Adding salt increased the beneficial effect of the calcium nitrate. Potas- 

 sium nitrate and ammonium nitrate were as effective as sodium nitrate. So- 

 dium nitrite was not equal to the nitrate in fertilizing effect, but it was so little 

 inferior to the latter that it is thought that the small amount of nitrite some- 

 limes occurring in calcium nitrate is likely to have a negligible effect upon the 

 fertilizing value of the latter. Lime nitrogen in deep applications in the fall 

 gave as good results as sodium nitrate, but was much less effective when ap- 

 plied as a top-dressing in the spring. Urea and guanadin and their nitrates 

 were inferior to sodium nitrate. Burkheiser salt (containing cyauids in addi- 

 tion to ammonium sulphate) was inferior in fertilizing effect to ammonium sul- 

 phate. The waste in the manufacture of articles from galalith (indurated 

 casein) was decidedly inferior to the nitrate, especially when used in coarse 

 form on sandy soils. 



The utilization of the nitrogen of these different substances by crops is dis- 

 cussed in detail in the article. 



Comparative results with different phosphatic manures, D. A. Gilchrist 

 {County Northuinb. Ed. Com. Bui. 21 (1914). PP- 35-43). — Summarizing the 

 results of several years experiments with different crops at the Cockle Park 

 Experiment Station it is stated that high citric acid solubility in case of phos- 

 phatic slags is not a sure index of greater fertilizing efliciency. While some- 

 what contradictory, the results indicate that high lime content in slags is ad- 

 vantageous and that high iron content is not disadvantageous. Both Tunisian 

 and Belgian phosphates gave quite satisfactory results, the latter esi^ecially 

 when it had been calcined. The indications were that the same amount of 

 phosphate applied as a mixture of basic slag and superphosphate may give bet- 

 ter results than when all the phosphate is applied as slag. 



The fertilizing action of the phosphoric acid of steamed bone meal, T. 

 Alexander (Momtsh. Landw.. 7 (1914), ^^os. 1-2, pp. 20-24; 3-4, pp. 67-73).— 

 In experiments on grass lands it was found that the phosphoric acid of steamed 

 Lone meal was in no case inferior but in a few cases superior to that of Thomas 

 slag, and this was true even in case of soils well supplied with lime. 



The reserve supply of phosphate rock in the United States, W. H. Wagga- 

 MAN (Jour. Indus, and Engm. Chem., 6 (1914), No. 6, pp. 4^4' 465).— Including 

 all rock containing from 58 to 78 per cent of '' bone phosphate of lime." it is 

 estimated that the total reserve supply of phosphate in the United States is 



