326 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



with acid and during the " ripening" (and reversion) of the superphosphate on 

 standing are discussed in relation to the availability of the phosphoric acid to 

 plants. It is claimed that the " ripened " superphosphate is readily available 

 and is less subject to leaching in the soil. 



The use of phosphatic fertilizers in France, Hitieb (Bui. Soc. Encour. Indus. 

 Nat. [Paris], 115 (1911), No. 6, pp. 848-855; al)s. in Nature [London], 88 (1912), 

 No. 2204, p. 429 ) . — The amount and character of phosphates used in France, as 

 well as the factors affecting the price of phosphatic fertilizers during recent 

 years, are discussed in this article. 



It is shown that large amounts of basic slag and superphosphate, but little 

 rock phosphate, are used in France. " More than a quarter of a million tons 

 of basic slag are used annually on the grass land, especially where the soil is 

 derived from granite and schists, while about one and a half million tons of 

 superphosphate are used annually on the arable land, and a good deal of phos- 

 phate is also contained in the guano applied as fertilizer." 



It is stated that the price of sur^erphosphates has usually been lower in 

 France than in England, but now that the French deposits of rock phosphate are 

 giving out it is necessary to look elsewhere for supplies of this material, and 

 the price is therefore increasing. At the same time the price of pyrites, from 

 which the sulphui'ic acid used in the manufacture of superphosphates is made, 

 has also increased. 



Discussing the effect of phosphates on the quality as well as the quantity of 

 farm products, it is pointed out that Miintz has shown that dairy products, 

 particularly butter of the finest quality, are obtained only from pastures excep- 

 tionally rich in phosphates, and that Faturel has shown a clear connection be- 

 tween the quality of wine and the supply of phosphates. 



The production of phosphate rock in 1911, F. B. Van Horn (Amer. Fert., 

 86 (1912), No. 11, pp. 21-28).— In 1911 the total marketed production was 

 3,053,279 long tons, valued at $11,900,693, as compared with 2,654,9SS long tons, 

 valued at $10,917,000, in 1910. "This increase was almost entirely in Florida 

 land pebble, though Tennessee also showed a good gain. The average price of 

 all rock showed a falling off, being $3.90 in 1911, as compared with $4.11 in 

 1910." 



The business aspect of the kelp proposition, F. P. Dewey (Jour. Indus, and 

 Engin. Chem., 4 (1912), No. 4, P- 311). — This article emphasizes especially the 

 difficulty and cost of gathering and drying the kelp in the preparation of potash 

 salts from this source. Assuming the possibility of in time reducing the cost of 

 gathering to 25 cts. per ton and of air-drying to 15 cts. per ton, and that the 

 iodin will pay the cost of all operations on the air-dried kelp, it is estimated 

 that a ton of potassium chlorid from kelp will cost, laid down on the Atlantic 

 coast, $28. 



Potash lime, its preparation and use in agriculture, Molleb et al. (Deut. 

 Ziickerindus., 37 (1912), No. 22, pp. 481-483). — Experiments on beets and oats 

 with this material, which is prepared by treating lime with the waste solu- 

 tion from the manufacture of potash, and which contains according to the 

 analysis reported about 48 per cent of lime and 1.4 per cent of potash, are 

 briefly reviewed, indicating a decided fertilizing value. See also a previous 

 note (E S. R.. 26, p. 526). 



Carriers of lime, j. W. Ames (Ohio Sta. Girc. 123, pp. 135-142).— ''K general 

 description of the several forms and of the by-product materials containing lime 

 is presented in this circular." 



Sulphur as a fertilizer, A. Heraud (Petite Rev. Agr. et Hort., 18 (1912), No. 

 419, pp. 112, 113). — This is a brief article based upon the experiments of Chan- 

 crin and Desriot (E. S. R., 25, p. 519), Boullanger (E. S. R., 27, p. 27), Demolen 



