24 EXPERIMENT STATION EECQRD. 



Denitrification in cultivated soils, G. Ampola {Ann. R. Sta::. Chhn. Agr. 

 Sper. Roma. 2. set:, 2 (.1907-8), pp. i?-i J)). —Experiments have been carried on 

 for the past 10 years (B. S. R., 18, p. 1025), and in the present series it was 

 desired to include crops not previously studied, viz, wheat, rye, and flax. The 

 results do not modify in any substantial way the conclusions already drawn. 

 Calcium nitrate was more effective than nitrate of soda and the latter in pres- 

 ence of stable manure was less effective than when used alone. Calcium nitrate 

 usually gave a larger percentage of seed iu the total return, and in the case of 

 wheat, a larger absolute amount of seed. 



The physiolog-ical character of amnaonium salts, D. N. Prianischnikov 

 (Ber. Deut. Bot. GcscU., 26a (1908), No. 10, ijp. 716-724; ahs. in Jour. Chem. 

 Soc. [London^, 96 (.1909), No. 557, II, pp. 259, 260; Chem. Zentbl., 1909, I, No. 8, 

 p. 682).— A continuation of previous experiments (E. S. R., 18, p. 539) is re- 

 portetl in this article. 



These experiments indicate that the addition of sodium nitrate to ammonium 

 sulphate reduces the physiological acidity of the soil and so influences the assim- 

 ilation of phosphoric acid from insoluble phosphates. Sodium nitrate is more 

 active in this respect than ammonium nitrate. It was found also that the 

 assimilation of phosphoric acid decreases with the increase of calcium carbonate 

 applied. Without the application of lime, however, the plant becomes over- 

 charged with phosphoric acid, but the yield remains low on account of excessive 

 acidity. This explains the benefit of small applications of lime and phosphorus 

 hunger in case of large applications. 



The toxic properties of cyan compounds and their decomposition products 

 used as fertilizers, W. Stritt (Ztschr. Hyg. u. Infektionskrank., 62 (1909), 

 No. 2. pp. 160-198). — A study of the toxic properties of pure calcium cyanamid, 

 dicyandiamid. calcium cyanamido carbonate, lime nitrogen, and nitrogen lime, 

 on frogs, rabbits, and dogs, is reported, showing a comparatively small lethal 

 dose of all of these substances for the small animals experimented with. 



Tolerance of wheat toward calcium cyanamid, S. de Grazia (Ann. R. 

 Staz. Chim. Agr. Sper. Roma, 2. ser., 2 (1907-8), pp. 51, 301-311; Stas. Sper. 

 Agr. ItaL, J,l (1908), No. 9-11, pp. 657-667: abs. in Chem. Zentbl., 1909, I, No. 

 10, p. 869). — The conditions under which the experiments were carried on were 

 good as to soil but poor as to moisture. The conclusion is reached that wheat 

 tolerates large applications of calcium cyanamid whether ai)plied some days 

 before sowing or as a top-dressing. 



The industrial utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, A. Bernthsen (Osterr. 

 Chem. Ztg., 12 (1909), No. J,, pp. ^6, 47; abs. in Chem. Zentbl., 1909, I, No. 1.',, 

 p. 1202). — This is a brief account of the principal processes which have been 

 proposed for this purpose. 



The nitrate industry in Norway, S. Eyde (Ztschr. Elektrochem., 15 (1909), 

 No. 5, pp. I'i6, /'/?; abs. in Chem. Zentbl., 1909, I, No. 13, p. 1120). — This is a 

 brief account of the present status of the utilization of water power in the 

 production of nitric acid from the nitrogen of the air. 



Nitrate and its substitutes, K. W. Jurisch (Salpeter und sein Ersatz. 

 Leipsie. 1908, pp. Till +356, pis. 2',. figs. 21. dgms. 2). — This book summarizes 

 information regarding the occurrence, handling, properties, use, and statistics 

 of production and consumption of sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium 

 nitrate, lime nitrogen, nitrate prepared from nitrogen of the air by the Birke- 

 land and Eyde process, and ammonia and ammonium compounds. There is 

 also a special chapter devoted to nitrogen fertilizing. At the end of each chap- 

 ter a full bibliography is given. The literature is not reviewed beyond 1907 

 and is only partially complete for that year. The statistics do not extend 



