SOILS FERTILIZERS. 821 



not intertVred with iind wms i)ractically as active as in the ease of anmionium 

 sulphate. 



The experiments indicated that tlie retarding effect of calcium cyanamid on 

 nitrification is not due (or only in minor degree) to the caustic lime present, 

 hut to the cyanamid itself. Ii was also ohserved that larger applications of 

 the cyanamid could he used on soils rich in humus without retarding nitrifica- 

 tion than on those poor in humus. 



A sample of cyanamid kept exposed to the air from Xovemher 21 to .Tune 1.") 

 increased in weight from 100 to 120..''> gm., and its nitrogen content decreased 

 from 20.07 per cent to 15.9G per cent, due to escai)e of anunonia. There was 

 no loss in 42 days when cyanamid was mixed with kainit. When mixed with 

 superphosphates the temperature of the mixture rose ])erceptihly, and there was 

 an immediate loss of about 5 per cent of the original nitrogen. When stirred 

 up with water and allowed to stand for a long time there was a gradual loss of 

 nitrogen. 



Ap[)li<-ations of 200 kg. per hectare of cyanamid had no effect on earthworms. 



Experiments witli a large number of different kinds of crops on a great vari- 

 ety of soils and under different climatic conditions indicate the cyanamid to be 

 fully as effective as ammonium sulphate as a fertilizer, and that it does not 

 retard germination or suffer loss in top-dressing when used in normal amounts. 

 It may be considered the equivalent of ammonium sulphate when used in equal 

 amounts and applied in the same manner. 



Experiments in fertilizing rice ■with, calcium cyanamid, A. Menozzi and 

 E. Gruner (Ann. 1st. Agr. [Milan^, 6 (1901-1905), pp. ol—J7; abs. in Staz. Sper. 

 a'iji: ItnJ . 39 (1906), Ao. 10-12, p/j. 1132-113.',). — In the experiments reported 

 calcium cyanamid gave almost as good results as ammonium sulphate. 



Investigations on the action of lime niter, A. Stutzer (Jour. Landw., JJ 

 (1901). Xo. 1-2, pp. 69-11 ; abs. in Jour. Cliem. Soc. [London], 92 (1907), No. 

 538, If, p. 6Jf6). — I'ot experiments with neutral and basic lime niter on oats, 

 fodder beets, and potatoes are reported, showing about the same effect from the 

 two materials. The results with potatoes were especially favorable and supe- 

 rior, as regards both yield and starch content, to those obtained with sodium 

 nitrate. On fodder beets the medium and heavier applications of lime niter 

 (58 to IK) lbs. per acre) were as a rule fully as effective and in some cases more 

 effective than sodium nitrate. The poor development from other causes in the 

 case of the oats made the residts inconclusive. The neutral lime niter used in 

 these experiments contained 25.8 per cent of lime and 12.47 per cent of nitro- 

 gen. The basic material contained 43.7 per cent of lime and 10.56 per cent of 

 nitrogen. 



The future of the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers from the air, 

 Maizif.res (Engrai.s, 22 (1901), No. 22, pp. 516, 511). — A statement is given 

 showing the works which have been or are being established for the manu- 

 facture of calcium cyanamid in different countries of the world. 



An agricultural problem (Tradesman, 51 (1901), No. 9, p. 63). — Reference 

 is made in this article to the purpose of a hydro-electric power company in 

 Tennessee to undertake the manufacture of calcium cyanamid. 



Investigations on the combustion of elementary carbon and nitrogen, 

 Berthelot (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], I'lJf (1901), No. 1, pp. 35.'t-351 : 

 ahs. in Bui. Soc. Chim. France, 4. ser., 1 (1901), No. 11, p. 608).— \ study of 

 the decomposition of cyanogen by means of the electric spark is reported, from 

 which the conclusion is drawn that there is no stable equilibrium between pure 

 nitrogen and carbon. 



