SOILS — FERTILIZEES. 531 



The utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, particularly for the manufacture 

 of air saltpeter, A. Bernthskn (Jour. Indus, anil Eiu/iii. Vhcin., 1 (1909), No. 

 7, pp. .'i6G-.'f7.j). — The development of processes for this purpose is explained in 

 some detail. 



Production of ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen, 11. C. Woltereck (Sci. 

 Proc. Boy. Dublin Soc, n. ser., 12 (1909), No. 6, pp. 5Ji-')9 ; ahs. in Set. Abs., 

 Sect. A—Phys., 12 (1909), No. 137, p. 316).— The results of the reduction of 

 moist peat in horizontal iron retorts are reported, showing a production of 

 ammonia greatly in excess of that which could be accounted for by the nitrogen 

 in the peat and leading to the conclusion that part at least of the ammonia must 

 have been produced synthetically from the nitrogen of the air. The results 

 " clearly prove that nitrogen is capable of chemical reaction if present during 

 the moist oxidation of certain metals, or of carbon within certain limits of 

 temperature." 



The production of ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen by means of peat, 

 H, C. Woltereck (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. ScL, 1908, pp. 675, 676). — This is an 

 abstract of a paper presented at the Dublin meeting of the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, giving the results of the experiments by the 

 author noted above. 



Production and consumption of sulphate of ammonia in 1908, MAizif:RES 

 (Engrais. 2'/ (1909), No. 26. pp. 713-715). — The total production is given as 

 829,500 tons, of which Great Britain produced 314,000 tons, Germany 313,000, 

 France 57,000, Austria-Hungary 35.000, Belgium 30,000, and the United States 

 about 20,000. Germany consumed during the year 284,000 tons. Great Britain 

 79,000, France 89.000, and Belgium and Holland 67,000. 



The rational use of superphosphates, J. Dumont (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Paris], US (1909), No. 18, pp. 1205-1207; ahs. in Rev. Sci. [Paris], 7/7 (1909), 

 I, No. 20, p. 636). — Investigations are reported which indicate that the most 

 effective way of using superphosphates is in mixture with thoroughly fermented 

 farm manure. In this way the reversion which usually occurs in the soil under 

 ordinary methods of application is largely prevented, the phosphoric acid com- 

 bining with the humus to form humophosphates, which are readily available. 



Fertilizing with wood ashes, A. A. Kaluzhskii (VyestniJc Russ. Selsk. 

 Khoz., 1906, No. 3.'/; abs. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.], 

 9 (1908), No. 6, pp. 780, 781). — Experime:its with oats corroborated the view of 

 Prianishnikov that wood ashes should be applied in much smaller quantities 

 than is customary, 270 lbs. per acre giving the best results. 



Comniercial fertilizers; the service of a fertilizer control; soil physiogra- 

 phy, J. L. Hills, C. H. Jones, and H. L. IMiner (Vermont Sta. Bill. l.'iS, pp. 

 119-260). — This bulletin reports the results of inspection of 133 brands of fer- 

 tilizers, the output of 12 companies, with discussions of the quantity and quality 

 of the plant food furnished by these fertilizers, selling prices and valuation, 

 and comparison of the composition of the fertilizers sold during the season of 

 1908-9 with that of the same fertilizers sold during previous years. 



A discussion is also given of " the service of a fertilizer control, the methods 

 of its financing, of sampling and analysis, of the publication of results, together 

 with a detailed exposition of tlie interpretation of an analysis, as well as an 

 explanation of the use which buyers may make of the analytical and the other 

 statements of the control." 



A special feature of the bulletin is an article on soil physiography in which 

 an attempt is made " to cover the sundry internal and external forces, particu- 

 larly those of the air, ground water, water in motion, ice action and life, in 

 their relations to rock disintegration and soil formation." 



