720 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pliate was converted into superphosphates, of which about 7,500,000 tons were 

 produced. The production of Thomas slag is stated to have been about 3,000,000 

 tons. 



The world's consumption of nitrate of soda during 1908 is given as 1,748,000 

 tons, of sulphate of aunnonia 878,000 tons, of Norwegian nitrate 25,000 tons, and 

 of calcium cyanamid 20,000 to 25,000 tons. Data are given regarding the de- 

 velopment of new potash deposits and the use of potash salts and other fer- 

 tilizing materials in France. 



Losses of manurial constituents in, and the action of preservatives on, 

 farmyard manure during storage, R. A. Berry {Abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. 

 Indus., 28 {1909), No. 13, jtp. 122, 723). — This is a note on a paper presented 

 at the International Congress of Applied Chemisti'y at I^ondon, which gave an 

 account of investigations to compare losses of the fertilizing constituents in 

 manure kept in exposed heaps in a climate with an average rainfall of 41 in. 

 with the losses occurring under cover, and showing the effect of different pre- 

 servatives on the nitrogen content of manui-e in storage. The rainfall during 

 the period of experiment was 15.1 in. and the mean temperature 39.5° F. 



The average effect of storage was to increase the ratio of insoluble nitrogen 

 and to decrease the ammouiacal nitrogen by about 10 per cent. There was a 

 decrease in total nitrogen of about 29 per cent. The effect on the mineral con- 

 stituents was to produce a slight decrease in the ratio of soluble to total phos- 

 phates and potash. The general effect of the use of preservatives (superphos- 

 phate, kainit, gypsum, acid sodium phosphate, chalk, bleaching powder, forma- 

 lin, and chloroform) in comparison with covering the manure with soil and 

 closely and loosely packing it was to increase the ratio of insoluble nitrogen 

 by 4.5 per cent and of ammouiacal nitrogen by 3 per cent. The losses of total 

 nitrogen were variable. The best results in preserving the manure were ob- 

 tained by packing it closely and covering with a layer of soil. 



Investigations relative to the use of nitrogenous fertilizers, 1898-1907, 

 E. B. VooRHEES and J. G. Lipman {Abs. in Join: Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 {1909), 

 No. 13, p. 723). — In this paper, presented at the International Congress of 

 Applied Chemistry at London, the authors summarized investigations at the 

 New .Jersey Stations extending over 10 years ( E. S. I{., 21. p. 529). 



On the consequence of nonfusion of nitrate of soda in the soil, A. Demolon 

 {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. scr., 17 {1909), No. 18, pp. .Jo7-559). — This article, based 

 largely upon investigations by Miintz and Gaudechon (E. S. R., 21, p. 23), 

 Hall, and Deherain, shows the importance of taking account of the moisture 

 content of the soil in the application of nitrate of soda and of applying the 

 nitrate in a fine state of division at times when the soil contains sufficient 

 moisture to bring the material rapidly into solution and diffuse it widely 

 in the soil. 



The action of sulphate of ammonia on lig'ht sandy soils, A. Imelmann 

 {Deut. Landw. Prcsse, 36 {1909), No. 72, pp. 768, 769). — Experiments with beets 

 and oats during 1907 and 1908 in continuation of experiments with rye and po- 

 tatoes in 1905 and 1906 (B. S. R., 19, p. 926) are briefly reported. The results 

 show that under the conditions of these experiments the sulphate of ammonia 

 gave profitable returns when used on light sandy soils in connection with the 

 necessary amount of phosphoric acid and potash. 



The use of sulphate of ammonia on sandy soils, Bachmann {Landic. 

 WcJnibl. Sehles. Hoist., 59 {1909), No. J,0, pp. 673-675).— Tests of different 

 amounts and methods of applying sulphate of ammonia on rye grown on sandy 

 soils are reported. 



Spring application of the sulphate gave better results than a divided appli- 

 cation in fall and spring. Good results were obtained by making the first 

 application early in the spring with a second application 3 weeks later. 



