SOILS FERTILIZERS. 629 



ducted by J. C. Pauii)ari of tlif Italian union of agricultunil syndicates are 

 reviewed. 



The experiments were made in boxes containing .30 Ivg. of soil. Ammonium 

 sulphate used at the rate of 5 gm. per box supplying about I gni. of nitrogen 

 was compared with crude anunonia (prepared from gas liquor) containing 

 from !"» to 0.5 per cent of ammonia, at rates of 15 to .50 gm. supplying from 

 0.77 to 2.08 gm. of nitrogen per box. The crude ammonia was applied 30 

 days before seeding and at the time of seeding. 



The crude ammonia was less effective than ammonium sulphate. Applica- 

 tions of about 1,800 lbs. per acre gave best results. The results with reference 

 to time of application were not conclusive. Other experiments, however, accord- 

 ing to the reviewer, have shown conclusively that the material must be applied 

 some time before seeding to give best results. Considerable time is necessary 

 for nitrification and transformation of injurious compounds which may be 

 present. 



Production of sulphate of ammonia (Jour. Bd. Apr. [London], J.'/ (Jf)07). 

 No. 5, pp. 305, 306). — The report for 1900 of the chief inspector under the 

 alkali and works regulations acts, shows that there were 107 chemical fertilizer 

 factories and 495 sulphate and muriate of ammonia works subject to insjiection 

 during that year in Great Britain. The imported materials used in the fertilizer 

 factories were, guano 24,000 tons, mineral phosphates 442,970 tons, and nitrate 

 of soda 108,48(! tons. The sulphate of ammonia produced during the year in 

 the T'nited Kingdom was as follows: From gas works 157,100 tons, iron works 

 21,284 tons, shale works 48..5,34 tons, coke-oven works 4.3,077 tons, in-oducer-gas 

 and carbonizing works (bone and coal) 18,7.30 tons, total 289,.391 tons. The 

 export of sulphate of ammonia amounted to 201,500 tons, the home consumption 

 to about 88,000 tons. 



Formation of ammonia from its elements by the action of the electric spark; 

 the influence of pressure, E. Rriner and E. Mettlek (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Paris], l.'i'i (1007), Xo. 1>, pp. 6<)'i-6!n\ figs. 2; ahs. in Chcm. Abs., 1 (WOI), 

 No. 16, p. 2068). — "The authors allowed the discharge of the secondary of an 

 induction coil to pass through a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen corresponding 

 to the formula N2+3H2, and condensed the ammonia produced in a tube cooled 

 by liquid air, thus avoiding the destructive action of the sparlv (m the ammonia 

 itself. Manometric observations of the pressure allowed them to follow up the 

 reaction. They studied the influence of the initial pressure and found that 

 the yield in ammonia is maximum at a pressure of about 100 nun. (0.17 gm, 

 ammonia per kilowatt hour). The existence of this maximum is due to the 

 fact that, while increase of i)ressure accelerates the reaction, it, on the other 

 hand, diminishes the electrical conductivity of the gas." 



The electro-thermic combustion of atmospheric nitrogen, F. Howles (Jour. 

 Soc. VUcin. Indus., 26 (I'JOl), No. 7, pp. 290-297, pgs. 10; nhs. in Client. Zenthl., 

 1907, I, No. 23, p. WH; Chem. Abs., 1 {1907), No. 16, pp. 2162-216.',).— 'n\e 

 author i-eviews investigations made by him in 1808-99 and discusses the scien- 

 tific in-inciiiles and the technical processes involved in the combustion of nitro- 

 gen with oxygen and the transformation of nitrous oxid into nitric acid, as 

 well as the cost of producing nitric acid with water power, steam, Mond gas, 

 and blast-furnaco gases. 



The estimated cost per 1,000 kg. (2,2(X) 11)S.) of anhydrous nitric acid with 

 the different sources of power is approximately as follows : Water $32, steam 

 $4S, xMond gas $29, and blast-furnace gases $13. 



The author estimates that the waste power of the blast furnaces of Europe 

 is more than sufficient to supply the electrical energy which would be required 

 to manufacture the sodium nitrate consumed there at the present time. 



