SOILS FEETILIZEES. 725 



packing, and sewago purification purposes, poudrette,' peat paraffin caudles, 

 cliarcoal, alcoliol, fertilizer, and a number of other minor uses. 



Peat and its agricultural uses, G. Paturel (Prog. Agr. et Vit. (Ed. VEst), 

 28 {1907), Xo. IS, i>i>. 3S3-389; Engrais, 22 {1901), JVo. i4, VP- 327-331; abs. 

 in Chcin. Abs., 1 {1907), No. 17, p. 228-^). — Peat deposits are roughly divided 

 into 3 layers, the upper brown layer consisting of vegetable matter in process 

 of decomposition, the darker colored middle layer further advanced in decom- 

 position, and the black compact lower layer rich in carbon which is used as 

 fuel. Peat is considered as superior to straw as litter, and manure with peat 

 has given better results on wheat and sugar beets than manure with straw. 

 It is valuable for use in composts, and crude phosphates are rendered more 

 available by coni])osting with it. AVhen treated with superheated steam, peat 

 yields most of its nitrogen as ammonia. It may also be made useful in pro- 

 motilig intense nitrification in niter beds. Peat powder is an excellent ab- 

 sorbent for use in preparing molasses feeds (taking up 3 times its weight of 

 molasses). It may also be used as a source of alcohol, as ii disinfectant, and 

 as a preservative of animal and vegetable products. 



The peat deposits of northern Indiana, A. E. Taylor {Ind. Dcpt. Gcol. and 

 Nat. Rcfsourccs Ann. Rpt., 31 {1906), pp. 73-290, pis. 8, figs. //?'). — This article 

 defines peat and muck, and describes different varieties of peat, shows the ex- 

 tent of distribution of peat deposits throughout the world, classifies peat 

 marshes, and discusses the origin and uses of peat. 



The results of a detailed study of the occurrence, rpiality, and uses of peat 

 in northern Indiana, more particularly in the counties of Steuben, Dekalb, 

 Allen, Whitley, Noble, Lagrange, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Wabash, Miami, Fulton, 

 Cass, Marshall, St. Joseph, Laporte, Starke, Pulaski, White, Jasper, Porter, Lake, 

 and Newton, are given. Examinations of 29 samples of Indiana peat show 

 fuel values ranging from 2,523.1 calories per kilogram to .5,814.6 calories. In 

 5 of these samples the nitrogen varied from 2.22 to 3.91 per cent, the phosphoric 

 acid from 0.90 to 1.9 per amt, and the potash from 0.S2 to 1.50 per cent. 



Glauconite as a fertilizer, C. Schreiber {Bui. Agr. [Brussels], 23 {1907), 

 No. 9, pp. 656-665). — Pot experiments with soil rich in glauconite during 2 years 

 ai"e reported. The glauconite grains in the soil contained 0.02 per cent of potash 

 soluble in boiling water, 0.17 per cent soluble in strong hydrochloric acid, 0.73 

 per cent soluble in strong nitric acid, and 4.29 per cent soluble in hydrofluoric 

 acid. 



The results showed in general that soils abundantly supplied with this ma- 

 terial contained a considerable reserve of potash which became available for 

 plant growth each year, the extent of assimilation of the potash being con- 

 trolled by the character of the plant. Such soils therefore required less potash 

 in the form of fertilizers in order to obtain the maximum yield than soils not 

 containing glauconite. 



Field experiments on the fertilizing' action of the more important potash 

 salts, Wein et al. {Arb. Dent. Landw. Gesell., 1907, No. 127, pp. 159; abs. 

 in Mitt. Dent. Landw. Gesell. , 22 {1907), No. 33, pp. 295-297). ^The results of 

 systematic cooperative experiments, mainly with kainit and 40 per cent potash 

 salt, at 5 experiment stations are reported. The dependence of the effect of 

 the potash salts upon the kiufl of crop and character of soil, climate, and cul- 

 ture is made evident by the details of the diff"erent experiments reported. 



Orange River silt as a fertilizing agent, C. F. Juritz {Agr. Jour. Cape 

 Good Hope, 31 {1907), No. 3, pp. 295-299).— A chemical analysis of the silt 

 from the bed of Orange River showed organic matter 14.8 per cent, lime 1.44 

 per cent, potash 0.47 per cent, phosphoric acid 0.22 per cent, and nitrogen 0.1 

 per cent. Mechanical analysis showed 71.2 per ceut of clay and 28,5 per cent 



