722 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Issleib's process of soaking seeds for 48 hours in a solution containing 50 

 gm. each of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, 

 and sodium phosphate per liter of water was tested with negative results. 



Chilean nitrate combine, A. A. Winslow (Daily Consular and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. .S.], 1907, \o. 3008, p. i^).— Statistics are given of the output of the nitrate 

 mines of Chile. The export during 1906 is given as 1.766,805 metric tons, 

 valued at $79,320,710. The export to the United States is constantly increas- 

 ing and was about 25 jier cent of the total output in 1906. "England consumes 

 nearly one-half the output, (Jermany coming next." 



When wheat fails, S. P. Thompson (World's Work \ London], 10 (1907), No. 

 59, pp. -'/DS-J/HS, figs. .'/). — This article discusses the importance of the develop- 

 ment of methods for the artificial production of nitrate iu order to insure the 

 continuance of an adequate supply of wheat. 



It is stated that the territory at present available for wheat production, 

 240.000,000 acres, is capable with the jiresent average yield per acre, 123 bu., of 

 producing enough wheat for only 666,000,000 people, assuming the average an- 

 nual consumption per head to be Ah bu. At the itresent rate of increa.se the 

 population of wheat-eating inhabitants of the world will reach this number in 

 1910. With better methods of culture and more liberal use of fertilizers it 

 should be possible to increa.se the average yield from 12* to 20 bu. per acre, but 

 it is estimated that to do this would require 166 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre, 

 which, for the area now under wheat, 175.000,000 acres, would require 12,000,000 

 tons of nitrate per annum. 



The article describes the Notodden works in ^Norway, which are prepared to 

 utilize 22,000 horsepower in the manufacture of basic lime nitrate. This 

 power is obtained at the unusually low cost of 0.5 ct. per kilowatt hour. With 

 power at this ]iri(e the Norwegian product can be made at a cost of half that of 

 nitrate of soda laid down at Hamburg. 



Food and science (Vountnj Life [London], 22 (1907), \o. 561, p. 'i70). — This 

 is an editorial discussion of the article noted above. 



The industrial fixation and utilization of atmospheric nitrogen (del ct 

 Terre, 28 (1907), .Yo. /, /;/>. ;0-/7).— A brief review of the history of the de- 

 velopment of processes for this [lurpose. especially that of Birkeland and P^yde. 



On the analytical determination of nitrog'en oxids and the quantitative 

 relations in combustion of nitrogen in the high tension flame, AV. Xiiranen 

 (Dis.'<ert(iti(jn, Karlsrnlie, 1907, pp. JN, flys. 6). — A study of the laws and con- 

 ditions conti'olling the oxidation of nitrogen iu the high tension tlame is 

 reported. 



Validity of the law of mass action for the combustion of nitrogen in the 

 high-tension flame arc, A. Grau and F. Russ (Ztsclir. Elektroclieni., 13 (1907), 

 Xo. 3',, pp. 573-578, figs. 2; abs. in Sci. Abs., Sect. A—Phys., 10 (1907), \o. 119, 

 pp. 6.'f4, 6-'i5, fig. 1). — The authors give a preliminary account of recent experi- 

 ments in order to correct a misunderstanding of their work by Le Blanc. The 

 account deals with the equilibrium of NO concentration, the validity of the law 

 of mass action, and the temperature of the high-tension tiame. The I'esults of 

 their exiieriments are platted in a series of curves which show (1) that the 

 equilibrium point of NO concentration of the escaping gas is independent of the 

 energy consumption in the electric arc, (2) that the law of mass action is valid 

 for combustion of nitrogen in such arcs, and (3) that the temperature attained 

 must be about 3,500° C. 



On the absorption of nitrogen by calcium carbid, F. E. Polzenius (Chem. 

 Ztg., 31 (1907), Xo. 77, pp. 95S, 959; abs. in Chew. Zentbl.. 1907, II, No. 20, pp. 

 1681, 1682; Jour, Chem. 8oc. [London], 92 (1907), No. 51(1, II, p. 867; Chem. 



