SOILS FERTILIZERS. 523 



lizer for sugar beets and indicate great future possibilities for such products 

 when the processes and plants engaged in their manufacture are more fully 

 developed. 



Under what conditions is ammonium, sulphate most effective as a fertilizer? 

 MtiLLEB {Dent. Landw. Presse, 3^ {1901), Xo. 67, p. 539). — Among the condi- 

 tions named as essential to the most efficient action of the ammonium sulphate 

 are an abundant supply of potash in the soil, incorporation of the sulphate in 

 the soil immediately after application, or when the material is used as a top- 

 dressing application some time before the planting of the crop. 



Experiments with mineral fertilizers in the Moscow Government in 1905 

 {Ahs. in Zhur. Opiiitit. Afiroii. [Ru><s. Jour. E-rpt. Landir.], S (1907), Xo. 2, p. 

 197). — Experiments were made with fertilizers in 9 districts. Phosphates were 

 applied to cereals and potatoes, and gypsum to clover. Bone meal gave excel- 

 lent results on rye. Gypsum increased the yield of clover by one-third as com- 

 pared with nonfertilized cloA-er. 



Artificial fertilizers in peasant farming, A. Dubenski {SeJsk. Ehoz. i. 

 Lyesov., 1906, No. 9, pp. 355-373; abs. in Zhur. Opiiitn. Agron. [Russ. /our. 

 Expt. Landic], 8 {.1907). Xo. 2, pp. 203, 20-'/).— The author sums up the results 

 obtained on demonstration fields with phosphatic fertilizers. The experiments 

 were carried out on plats belonging to peasants. The practical importance of 

 these tests is indicated by the fact that while in 1800 oiily 5 peasants applied 

 about 7,2SG lbs., in 100.3 1,204 peasants applied about 714,080 lbs. of bone meal. 

 On an avera:ge, a nonfertilized acre gave about 347 lbs. of winter rye and a 

 fertilized one 689 lbs. Bone meal was applied at the rate of about 2G7 lbs. per 

 acre. 



The fertilizing value of plaster, J. Dumont {Hci. Agron.. 2 (1907), Xo. .), 

 pp. 257-274). — The history of investigations on this subject is briefly reviewed 

 and the action of plaster as a stimulant, plant food, absorbent, and mobilizer 

 of plant food in the soil is discussed in some detail. 



Influence of lime in connection with different phosphatic fertilizers, A. 

 Otryzanev (Vyestnil: Selsk. Khoz.. 1906. Xo. 37; abs. in Zhur. Opiiitn. Agron. 

 [Russ. Jour. Expt. Landic], 8 (1907), Xo. 2, pp. 20^-206).— Pot experiments 

 were made with oats, applying the phosphates with lime. The effect was satis- 

 factory only when superphosphate was used. In the presence of lime the 

 action of Thomas slag was reduced and the action of the still more difficulty 

 soluble phosphates (bone meal and phosphorite) was reduced to a greater 

 extent. Similar results were obtained with winter rye. 



On the use of calcium carbonate as a stable absorbent, O. Hofman-Bang 

 (A'. Landthr. Aknd. Handl. och Tidskr., ',6 (1907), Xo. 1, pp. 47-//9 ) .— The 

 manure from 28 steers was weighed for 14 days in March, 1006, and to one- 

 half thereof 5 per cent of CaCOs (air-slaked lime) was added. The manure 

 was placed in two piles and left for 7 mouths. The original weights were 4,762 

 kg. for the one, and 4,006 kg. for the other pile, the weight of the bedding being 

 included in both cases, and that of 240 kg. of lime in the latter. 



At the end of the trial one pile had lost 50 per cent in weight and the other 

 53.5 per cent, showing that the losses in the manure during storage were in- 

 creased through the addition of calcium carbonate. Analyses made May 12 and 

 September 10 showed that the limed pile contained 0.43 and 0.30 per cent of 

 nitrogen against 0.44 and 0.43 per cent for the other pile on the two dates 

 given. 



Use of manganese compounds as fertilizers, W. Van Dam (Chem. Weekhl., 

 h (1907), pp. 391-397; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 92 (1907), No. 538, 

 II, p. 649). — When seeds were soaked in manganese sulphate solution or the 

 25729— No. 6—08 3 



