928 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



manganese salts were applied at the rate of 22.27 lbs. of manganese oxid per 

 acre by dissolving in a considerable volume of water and sprinkling on the soil. 



Culture tests of manganese sulphate, M. de Molinari and O. Ligot {Bui. 

 Agr. [Brussels], 23 (1907), No. 10, pp. 76.'i-76S, fig. 1). — In view of the experi- 

 ments of Loew, Bertrand and others (E. S. R., 16, p. 42; 17, p. 9.51), indicating 

 a considerable fertilizing value for manganese salts, the authors undertook pot 

 experiments with varying amounts of manganese sulphate in connection with 

 other fertilizing materials. The manganese salt was applied to oats grown in 

 pots containing 4 kg. of sand or loam soil at rates of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 gm. 

 per pot. The results show that the application of the manganese sulphate 

 produced an appreciable increase in the yield. 



On the exploitation of guano, M. M. Magallanes (BoI. 8oc. Agr. 8ur 

 [CJiilc], 7 {1907), No. 10, pp. 1291-1296). — The text is given of a decree of the 

 minister of agriculture of October 5, 1907, modifying the original guano con- 

 cessions. 



Information regarding Chincha and Ballesta and neighboring islands, 

 R. E. COKER {Bol. 21in. Fomeitto IPcrii], 5 {1907), Xo. 0, pp. 76-95, i)ls. 11). — 

 A description of these islands with special reference to the origin, nature, and 

 exploitation of their guano deposits is given. 



Results and prospects in the nitrate industry {Economist, 65 {1907), No. 

 3352, pp. 2029, 2030). — Statistics are given of the nitrate industry with especial 

 reference to the British trade. It is pointed out that while the conditions are 

 at present unfavorable, " the consumption of nitrate has hitherto kept quite 

 abreast of the production, and though its use as a fertilizer is constantly being 

 threatened by the invention of substitutes, none of these have as yet affected 

 it seriously.'" 



Loss of nitric nitrogen from certain complex fertilizers, Astruc {Semaine 

 Agr. [Paris], 26 {1907), No. 1378, pp. 333, 33-i). — This article deals briefly 

 with the loss of nitrogen from mixtures of superphosphate and nitrate of soda. 

 It was found that a mixture consisting of 450 gm. of superphosphate, .300 gm. 

 of nitrate of soda, and 250 gm. of gypsum lost about 11 per cent of its total 

 nitrogen when kept from April 17 to August 15 in a hermetically sealed flask, 

 and this loss was accompanied by a considerable reversion of the soluble phos- 

 phoric acid. In lots of the same mixture kept in ordinary bags and paper sacks 

 the loss of nitrogen was three times as great and the reversion of phosphoric 

 acid twice as great as in the sealed flask. 



Norwegian nitrogen manufacture, H. H. D. Peirce and H. Bordewich {Mo. 

 Consular and Trade Rpts. [U. 8.], 1907, No. 326, pp. 227-230; Engin, and Min. 

 Jour., 8-'t {1907), No. 20, p. 929). — This is an account of works which have been 

 established in Norway for the production of basic calcium nitrate by the Birke- 

 land and Eyde process. It is stated that the present output is about 1,000 tons 

 per year. New works are being constructed which will increase the output to 

 about 20,000 tons, and others are projected, but further utilization of Norwegian 

 water power for this purpose by foreign capitalists has been practically pro- 

 hibited by recent legislation of the Norwegian Storthing. "As local capital for 

 such enterprises could hardly be got together in sutiacient amounts, the further 

 development of the Norwegian water powers upon a large scale will doubtless 

 be checked for some time." 



Process for the manufacture of a fertilizer from the nitrogen of the air, 

 L. Roth {Engrais, 22 {1907), No. 49, pp. 1167, 1168).— The production of 

 ammonia by passing the nitrogen of the air through a mixture of iron, clay, 

 saud, lime, aud magnesia heated to 60° C. is briefly noted. 



