724 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



On the influence of certain lime compounds on the fertilizing value of 

 ammonium sulphate and nitrogen lime, A. Stebutt {Fuhliiig's Landw. Ztg., 

 56 (1907), Xo. 19, pp. 669-676). — From the pot experiments reported the con- 

 clusion is drawn that the calcareous manures ordinarily used in practice, 

 namely, calcium oxid, calcium carbonate, and gypsum, are under normal condi- 

 tions without influence on the action of ammonium sulphate and nitrogen lime. 



Under what conditions can fertilizing with ammonium sulphate be made 

 most effective? Rippert [Bent. Landic. rrct<:sc, 3.'i {1907), Xo. 78, p. 621). — In 

 many cases ammonium sulphate gives best results when used as a top-dressing, 

 if applied some time before seeding. This may be done without fear of loss 

 if the application is made on the snow or when the soil is well supplied with 

 moisture from the previous winter. 



Crude ammonia, A Gregoire and J. Hendrick (Bui. Agr. [Brussels], 23 

 (1907); Xo. 8, pp. 592-604; Ann. Gcmhhmx, 17 (1907), Xo. 10, pp. 578, 579; 

 Engmis, 22 (1907), No. 52, p. 121,1; 23 (1908), No. 1, pp. 19, 2i).— Crude 

 ammonia is described as the product obtained in gas houses by saturating 

 Laming's mixture, which consists of' ferrous sulphate, or more commonly 

 natural iron oxids, and lime, made porous by addition of sawdust, with the gas, 

 usually after it has been cooled and washed. As would be expected, the product 

 is very variable in composition, depending largely upon the character of the 

 previous washing of the gas. If this has been thorough, little or no ammonia 

 escapes and the product will absorb mainly sulphiu' compounds, cyanids, and 

 sulphocyanids which escape tbe washing. 



The average of analyses made by the authors shows of ammoniacal nitrogen 

 0.6G i)er cent, sulphocyanid nitrogen 0.55 per cent, ferrocyauid nitrogen 1.41 

 per cent, total nitrogen 4.65 per cent, sulphur 19.82 per cent (of which 12.20 

 per cent is free), lime 0.47 per cent, and potash G.47 per cent. 



From pot exi)eriments with rape and ])lat experiments with sugar beets the 

 conclusion is reached that the fertilizing value of the " crude ammonia " has 

 been grossly exaggerated by some investigators, and that it may even be 

 positively poisonous when, as is sometimes the case, considerable amounts of 

 sulphocyanids are present. In the experiments with rape the efficiency of the 

 nitrogen of the crude ammonia was 22 to 40, as compared with nitrate of soda 

 100. With sugar beets its effect was nil. Its nitrogen is probably rarely as 

 efficient as that of nitrate of soda, and the extremely variable composition of the 

 material makes its action both as a fertilizer and as a destroyer of weeds, in- 

 sects, and the like uncertain. 



Crude ammonia and calcium cyanamid, JM. de Molinari and O. IjIgot (BuJ. 

 Agr. [Brussels], 23 (1907), No. 9, pp. 666-672, figs. ^).— Pot experiments with 

 oats and barley are described. The results show that in the loam soils relatively 

 rich in nitrogen experimented with the insoluble nitrogen of the crude ammonia 

 Avas much less effective than the soluble and total nitrogen. The calcium 

 cyanamid gave a yield but slightly inferior to that of sulphate of ammonia. 



Peat: Its use and manufacture, P. R. Bjorling and F. T. Gissino (London 

 and Pliihidelphia, 1907, pp. XII + 173, pis. 7, figs. ;7.}; rev. in Nature [London], 

 76" (1907), No. 1979, pp. 562, 563). — "This book contains a practical account of 

 the different methods of preparing peat for commercial purposes, and of the uses 

 to which i)eat can be applied." 



Different chapters deal with formation, growth, and distribution ; specific 

 gravity and analyses ; methods of digging, cutting, and dredging ; drying ; peat 

 fuel manufacture; nature and uses of peat as a fuel ; and uses of peat otherwise 

 than as fuel, including prepai'ation of illuminating gas, paper, textiles, a'tificial 

 wood, products of destructive distillation (ammonia, acetic acid, naphtha, oils, 

 and paraffin), moss litter, peat molasses feeding stuff, i)eat mull for deodorizing. 



