SOILS FERTILIZERS. 123 



Production and consumption of phosphates in 1908—9 and in 1912, 

 Maizierks (I-Jngrais, 2.'i [1009), Xo. 12, pp. 321, 322).— The production of phos- 

 phates ill 1908 is given in round numbers as 4,690,000 tons and the consumption 

 as 4,590.000 tons. It is estimated that the production in 1909 will be, in round 

 numbers, 5,000.000 tons, and in 1912, 0,000,000 tons. 



Saving America's plant food, G. E. JMitchell {Amer. Rev. of Rcvieios, 39 

 (1909), No. .'/. pp. -^'/J-'/'/N. fif/s. 2). — Attention is called especially to the neces- 

 sitj' of conserving the phosphate resources of the United States and of further 

 logis.ation to prevent v\'ast(>. 



Mineral resources of the United States, calendar year 1907. — Part II, Non- 

 metallic products (U. S. Geol. Survey, 1908, pp. 897, pi. 1, figs. 6). — This is the 

 usual detailed report on this subject. The chapter of greatest agricultural 

 interest is that relating to phosphates. See a previous note (E. S. R., 20, 

 p. 430). 



A much-neglected manure, A. E. Dixon (Natal Agr. Jour., 12 (1909), No. 2, 

 pp. 113, n't)- — 'J^he value and use of iron sulphate as a fertilizer are briefly 

 explained. 



Manganese as a fertilizer (Mark Lane Express, 100 (1909), No. JfO.'i2, p. 

 305; Phosphate, 18 (1909). No. 88G, p. 111). — Investigations on this subject by 

 Javillier, Lecarme, and others are referred to, and suggestions are made as to 

 the best method of applying manganese salts as a fertilizer. It is pointed out 

 that the salts should be used in highly diluted form, and to this end it is 

 advisable to mix them in pulverized form with chemicals or barnyard manure 

 in such quantities as to give 8.9 to 35.7 lbs. of manganese per acre. 



Fish guano, L. M. Douglas (Natal Agr. Jour., 12 (1909), No. 2, pp. 166- 

 168; Jour. Dept. Agr. West. Aust., IS (1909), No. J,, pp. 31.'t-31G).—A brief 

 account is here given of the fish guano industry in the United Kingdom. The 

 methods of manufacture and the character of the product are also described. 



The agricultural utilization of city sewage, J. Danckwerts (8. Internat. 

 Lamho. Kong. Wien, 3 (1907), Sect. V, Ref. 2b, pp. 29, figs. 2). — In this article 

 attention is called particularly to the fact that the fertilizing value of sewage 

 depends to a very large extent upon the solid matter that it contains and to the 

 desirability from an agricultural standpoint of preventing the dilution of the 

 sewage with rain water. The i)aper also discusses at some length the most 

 efficient means of handling and applying sewage water for agricultural pur- 

 poses. It is pointed out that sewage will give best agricultural results if used 

 in as fresh condition as possible. Some form of cooperative organization among 

 farmers is essential to the efficient agricultural utilization of sewage. 



Land utilization of sewage, E. G. Mawbey (8. Internat. Landw. Kong, 

 Wien, 3 (1907), Sect. V, Rap. 2B, pp. 13).— It is stated that "the trend at the 

 present time in the British Isles is toward artificial treatment of sewage, 

 chiefly by tanks and bacteria beds, because of the many instances where suit- 

 able land is not aA'ailable, or the cost is entirely prohibitive, and because of 

 some prejudice against sewage farms through mismanagement, etc. ; also be- 

 cause artificial processes can be more uniformly controlled in all weathers." 



The agricultural utilization of sewage, G. Bechmann (S. Internat. Landw. 

 Kong. Wien, 3 (1907), Sect. V, Rep. 6b, pp. 9).— The need of further study of 

 methods of utilizing sewage in agriculture is especially emphasized in this 

 article. Such use is to be recommended both for hygienic and for agricultural 

 reasons. The newer biological processes, while giving hygienic results, yield 

 such results with a loss of large amounts of valuable fertilizing material. It 

 may be found advantageous to combine these methods with agricultural 

 utilization. 



732— No. 2—09 3 



