1020 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



potiish salt and 14 per ceut superphosphate. The season was very unfavorable 

 and the rate of assimilation of the potash and phosphoric acid of the fertilizers 

 was very variable. The results show in general the profitableness of couimer- 

 cial fertilizers for the production of forage plants. Beyond this the experiments 

 yielded very few positive practical results. 



Agricultural experiments with, ashes which, fell during the eruption of 

 Vesuvius in April, 1906, L. Bernardini (8taz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 40 {1907), 

 jSo. .'i-o, pp. 310-320; ahs. in Chvm. Zentbl, 1907, II, No. 21, p. 1756). — Analyses 

 of these ashes collected at different places in the vicinity of Vesuvius show on 

 the basis of dry matter 9.05 to 10.25 per cent of potash, 2.81 to 3..36 per ceut of 

 soda, 8.21 to 9.42 per cent of lime, 0.54 to 0.64 per cent of phosphoric acid sol- 

 uble in hydrochloric acid, and 0.21 to 0.47 per cent of chlorin soluble in water. 



Culture experiments with the ash under varying conditions showed that there 

 was a sufficient amount of sodium chlorid in the ash to be injurious to plants, 

 but that this was soon removed by rain. The ash was in the form of an almost 

 impaliiable powder. 



Utilization of pond mud (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 1^ {1907), No. 8, pp. 

 Ji95-'i97). — Analyses of samples of pond mud from different sources are reported 

 and the experience in the use of this material at the Kew Gardens and else- 

 where is briefly summarized. The beneficial effect of pond mud on light, dry 

 soils is attributed as much to its physical effect as to its chemical action and 

 content of plant food. 



On fertilizer experiments with lime nitrogen, nitrogen lime, and lime niter, 

 Steglich (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 56 UHOl), No. 22, pp. 769-7SJ, figs. 2). — The 

 results of 5 years' experiments with a number of different crops grown in pots 

 are summarized and show that the relative efficiency of the different manures, 

 taking that of nitrate of soda as 100, was as follows: Green manures 81, ammo- 

 nium sulphate 95, lime nitrogen 96, nitrogen lime 94, and basic calcium nitrate 

 101. 



On the manurial effect of calcium cyanamid under different conditions, 

 S. UcHiYAMA {Bul. Imp. Cent. Agr. E.ipf. .S7«. .Japan, 1 {1907), No. 2, pp. 93- 

 104, pi. 1). — Pot experiments with barley and Brassica chinensis indicate that 

 "the manurial effect of lime nitrogen varies greatly with the reaction of the 

 other manuring compounds. It acts best when the total reaction in the soil 

 approaches neutrality. The manurial effect of ammonium sulphate also varies 

 greatly with the reaction of the other manuring compounds. It acts better 

 when sodium phosphate than when superphosphate is applied along with it." 

 It must therefore be inferred that ammonium sulphate also acts best when the 

 reaction of the total manure appi'oaches neutrality. 



Under favorable conditions the manurial effect of lime nitrogen was equal to 

 that of ammonium sulphate, Iiut when the nitrogenous manures were compared 

 in small applicafons ammonium sulphate proved superior. " This result may 

 be due to the changed state of the reaction. On sandy soil the action of lime 

 nitrogen was farther below that of ammonium sulphate than on loamy soil." 



Cultural experiments relating to the solubility in citric acid and the fine- 

 ness of phosphatic slag, C. Schreiber {Bui. Agr. [Brussels], 23 {1907), No. 10, 

 pp. 769-782; Rev. Gen. Agron., n. ser., 2 {1907), Nos. 11, pp. 1,33-437; 12, pp. 

 481-490). — Ten slags, varying in solubility in citric acid and in fineness of 

 grinding, were compared in pot experiments on oats and white mustard. 



In the first series of experiments the slags were applied (1) in quantities 

 furnishing equal amounts of total phosphoric acid, and (2) in quantities fur- 

 nishing equal amounts of phosphoric acid soluble in 2 per ceut citric acid. The 

 soil used was a river alluvium (loam) poor in phosphoric acid. 



