AGRICULTUEAL BOTANY. 519 



equivalent to 10,519,875,000 tons of high-grade roclc. This is stated to be dis- 

 tributed as follows : Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and JNIontana — high grade 

 2,500,000,000, high-grade equivalent of all grades, 7,500,000,000 tons; Florida- 

 high-grade equivalent of all grades, 354,300,000, high-grade equivalent of wash 

 heaps, 20,000,000 tons ; Tennessee — high-grade equivalent of all grades, 115,075,000 

 tons; South Carolina — high-grade equivalent of all grades, 10,000,000 tons; 

 Arkansas — high-grade equivalent of all grades, 20,000,000 tons ; and Kentucky- 

 high-grade equivalent of all grades, 500,000 tons. 



The composition of the Wittelsheimer potash salts and their use in agri- 

 culture, P. KuLiscH (Ztschr. Angeiv. Chem., 27 (1914), No. 53, Referatenteil, 

 p. JflS). — From numerous analyses it is shown that the potash salts of the 

 Alsatian deposits are mainly a mixture of potassium chlorid, 25 to 30 per 

 cent, and sodium chlorid, 55 to 65 per cent. Therefore, the salts should not be 

 used on crops injuriously affected by chlorin. They also contain a considerable 

 percentage of calcareous clay and are, therefore, not suitable for use in fer- 

 tilizer mixtures. 



The importance and value of phonolite as a fertilizer, O. Lemmermann 

 {Arh. Landw. Kammer Prov. Brandenburg, No. 35 [191Jf], pp. 39). — Reviewing 

 the results of experiments with this material, it is concluded that, while 

 phonolite has a certain value as a potash fertilizer, it does not compare in 

 cheapness and efficiency with the ordinary potash salts. 



Kelp production in "United Kingdom, J. L. Griffiths {DaUij Cons, and 

 Trade Rpts. [U. «.], 17 (WU), No. 134, pp. U02-1405).— Brief accounts are 

 given of the collection and use of kelp in various parts of the United Kingdom. 



Extensive use is made of kelp as a fertilizer in the island of Jersey, particu- 

 larly in connection with the potato crop. In the Scilly Islands, on account 

 of the lightness of the soil, as much as 50 long tons of seaweed are frequently 

 applied per acre for early potatoes, nearly as much for mangolds and other 

 root crops, and somewhat less for grain crops. The use of seaweed ash for 

 the manufacture of iodin has been largely superseded by the preparation of 

 this substance from Chilean nitrate, although iodin is still manufactured to 

 some extent from seaweed ash in Scotland. Lately, however, a process for 

 obtaining the iodin directly from the seaweed by distillation with superheated 

 steam has been proposed. 



Methods of burning seaweed and the species best suited to kelp making are 

 discussed. 



The partial sterilization of the soil by means of caustic lime, H. B. 

 Hutchinson and K. MacLennan (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1913, pp. 77^, 

 775). — The investigations of which this is a brief account have been noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 29. p. 730). 



Carbonic acid as a fertilizer, G. Quarrie {Commercial Fert., 8 {1914), No. 6, 

 p. 26c). — Garden experiments in which one plat of soil was treated with carbon 

 dioxid forced into it through underground pipes and another was untreated 

 with gas but abundantly supplied with stable manure are reported. 



The crops grown were potatoes, cabbages, Brussels sprouts, and privet. The 

 treated plat yielded a little over one-third more potatoes than that which 

 received only manure, and the potatoes were of better quality. The effect of 

 the treatment was pronounced in the case of all of the other crops. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Formation of chlorophyll in plants, II, N. MoNT:fivERD6 and W. Lubimenko 

 (Izv. Imp. Akad. Nauk {Bui. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. P^tersb.), 6. ser.. No. 9 {1912), 

 pp. 609-6S0; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 102 {1912), No. 598, II, pp. 800, 



