624 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



amount of the ammonia nitrogen was converted into nitrite or nitrate nitrogen, 

 but "the quantity of nitrite and nitrate nitrogen thus recovered [was] not suf- 

 ficient to account for the greater loss of ammonia from the inoculated solution. 

 The discrepancy observed here would tend to support the claim made by God- 

 lewski and others that gaseous nitrogen may be liberated in the nitrification of 

 ammonia." 



Studies on nitrifi.cation in the soil of Egypt, R. Roche (Bui. Assoc. Vhim. 

 Sucr. et Distill., 2Jt (1901), Xo. 12, pp. 1699-1701; Bui. Inst. Egyptien, 5. ser., 1 

 (1907), Xo. i, pp. 107-113; ahs. in Jour. Chcm. *S'or. {Lon<lon^. 92 (1907), Xo. 

 538, II, p. 61t3; Jour. 8oc. Chem. Indus., 26 (1907), Xo. 16, p. 936). — Examina- 

 tions of a large number of samples show that the proportion of nitric nitrogen 

 in Egyptian soils is very small, in some cases entirely lacking, particularly in 

 the poor, dry soils. Irrigation supplying from 15 to 25 per cent of moisture 

 furnished in the experiments reported the most favorable condition for nitrifi- 

 cation. The application of nitrogenous fertilizers, such as sabak and sulphate 

 of ammonia, and fallowing, increased the rate of nitrification to a considerable 

 extent. 



•The absence of nitrification in forest soils, L. Grandeau (Jour. Agr. Prat., 

 n. ser., 13 (1907), Xo. 21, pp. 6.'f5, 6.'i6). — This is a brief discussion based upon 

 investigations by E. Henry tending to show that although forest soils increase 

 in nitrogen content nitrification does not occur in such soils. 



On nitrogen-fixing' bacteria, II, F. Lohnis and N. K. Pillai (Centhl. Bakt. 

 [etc.], 2. AM., 19 (1907), No. 1-3, pp. 87-96, pi. J).— Investigations relating to 

 the behavior of- a number of nitrogen-fixing organisms on different kinds of 

 culture media are reported, and two new si)ecies, BaciUus malabarrnsis and 

 Bacterium tartaricum, are described in detail. See also previous work (E. S. 

 R., 17, p. 447). 



The inoculation of leguminous seeds by the methods of Hiltner and Moore, 

 M. EicKEMEYER (FUJiUng's Landic. Ztg., 56 (1907), Xo. 10, pp. 356-358; al)S. in 

 Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Aht., 20 (1907), Xo. 6-7, p. i 6,9). —Negative results with 

 Hiltner's improved nitragin obtained by Voelcker and others in pot experiments 

 are attributed to experimental conditions which mask or prevent beneficial 

 action, since in field experiments Voelcker obtained better results with the 

 nitragin. The negative results in all cases with Moore's cultures are ascribed 

 to destruction of the organisms by drying in the process of preparation. 



Experiments with Nitragin, C. Macias (Com. Par. Agr. [Mexico], Circ. 62, 

 pp. 't, i)ls. 8). — Beneficial results from the use of this material on frijoles and 

 lentils are reported. 



The influence of mineral fertilizers on the fixation of nitrogen by lower 

 organisms in. the soil, H. Wilfakth and G. Wimmer (Landw. Vers. Stat., 67 

 (1907), Xo. 1-2, pp. 27-50; ahs. in Chem. Zentbl., 1907, II, Xo. 15, p. 1261,; Chcm. 

 Abs., 1 (1907), Xo. 22, p. 2810). — In the experiments i-eported pots containing 2 

 kg. of sand were fertilized with various combinations of mineral nutrients, some 

 being uninoculated and some inoculated with soil extract. 



Determinations of the nitrogen content and organic matter of different layers 

 of the soils at the beginning and end of the experiments (vegetation period) 

 showed in brief that in the presence of sufficient amounts of potash, lime, and 

 magnesia, pure sand which had been inoculated by means of soil extract did not 

 fix any free nitrogen when phosphoric acid was lacking. When phosphoric acid 

 was added, however, there was a considerable fixation of niti'ogen. The pro- 

 duction of organic matter by various kinds of algae was also dependent upon 

 the presence of phosphoric acid. One part of combined nitrogen corresponded 

 on an average to 20 parts of organic matter produced. 



