SOILS FERTILIZERS. 1125 



tioiial sources of su]ii»ly of nitrojrcii for :ij,M-iciilturaI imrposes is cxiiliiiiu'd and 

 tlu^ I'.irkclaiid and Eydc and the Frank and Caro i)rocesses are described, the 

 tirst in considerable detail. It is estimated tliat under the couditioiis ])revailin,;j; 

 at \otod(U>n a metric ton of nitrate of lime cont.Miniuj; 13.2 per cent of nitroijen 

 can be preiiared by the I'.irkeland and Eyde jirocess at a cost of about .$10. 



The preparation of nitric acid from the air by means of the electric flame, 

 J. MosciCKi (Elckirotcrh. Ztitchi:, 2H (1!)07), Nos. Ji2, pit. 1003-100'), figs:. 6; .',.J. 

 pp. J032-1035, figs. 5; ////, pp. 1055-1058, figs. 5; abs. in Electrochcm. and Mctal- 

 lurg. Indus., 5 (1907), No. 12, pp. J,85, .',9l-->,9.'t, figs. 9; Sei. Ahs., Sect. B— 

 Electrical En gin., 10 (1907), No. 120, p. 570).— The older unsuccessful experi- 

 ments with high-voltage, high-frequency discharges, and a new system of mag- 

 netic deflection of the electric arc. similar to that of Rirkeland and Eyde, which 

 has been successfully used by the author in a manufacturing plant in A'evey, 

 Switzerland, are described. 



The author uses a rotating are the flame of which is produced between two 

 A-ertical concentric copper electrodes and is rotated by magnetic lines of force 

 parallel to the axis, spinning around in the annuhir space. The electrodes and 

 electromagnets are cooled by water and oil. A direct current sujiplied by a 

 compound dynamo at 1,500 volts or more is used. It is stated that only 1 per 

 cent of the energy is absorbed in the auxiliary apparatus and that 525 kg. of 

 nitric acid were obtainetl per kilowatt-year with the first laboratory furnace of 

 27 kilowatts. 



The action of the electric spark on mixtures of nitrogen and oxygen at 

 low temperatures, E. Briner and E. Durand (Compt. Rend. Acad. 8ci. [I'tiris], 

 lJi5 (1907). Xo. .',, pp. 2.'i8-250; ahs. in Bill. Soc. CJiim. France, .',. ser., 1 (1907), 

 Ao. 23, pp. Il'i3, IJ'i'i). — Studies of the action of the electric spark on 4.\2+():: 

 (air), X-+O2, and X2+2O2 in tubes cooled with liquid air and under ditfei-ent 

 l)ressures are rept)rted. The condensed product obtained was almost exclusively 

 nitrogen peroxid. The process of oxidation served to prodvice first NO in the 

 hottest region, then N-O3 in the coldest region, and finaly Js'Oj, which condenses 

 on the walls of the appariitus. 



Liquid air: Its manufacture and applications, (i. Claude (Rec. Sci. \ I'uris], 

 5. ser.. 9 (1908), Nos. 2',, pp. 737-7Ji5, figs. 8; 25, pp. 775-78-'/, figs. 7; Ann. 

 >Soc. Agr. Hci. et Indus. Lyon, 1906, pp. 136-159. figs. 8.) — Tliis article gives the 

 results of luuneious experiments on the liquefaction of air, the ]n"eservation and 

 properties of the liquid air, the extraction of oxygen, i)artial liquefaction, rec- 

 tification, and application of the oxygen. 



Lime nitrogen, nitrogen lime, and lime niter, E. (iKABNEK (Wiener Laiidir. 

 Ztg., 57 (1907), No. 80, pp. 753, 75 '1). — This ai'ticle briefly sunnnarizes the more 

 important information regarding the composition, ])roperties. and agricultural 

 value of these substances. 



Apparent loss of nitrogen from lime nitrogen, R. Kieckk (Clicin. Ztg., 31 

 (1907), No. 73, p. 905; al)S. in Clieni. Al)s., 2 (1908), No. 1, p. 159).— It is stated 

 that the apparent losses of nitrogen from lime nitrogen are explained l)y in- 

 crease of weight due to absorption of carbon dioxid and water from the air, 

 which are not usually taken account of in the calculations of percentage. 



Calcium cyanamid (Engin. and Min. Jour., 8>i (1907), No. 21, p. 976; ('hem. 

 Trade .Jour., .'il (1907), No. 1075, p. 582). — A list is given of cyanamid works in 

 course of construction in Europe. 



The problem of potash salts in Italy, I. Ceruti (Indus. Chim., 7 (1907), 

 pp. 281-283; alts, in Clieni. Zenthl.. 1907, II, No. 25, p. 1993).— On the basis of 

 examinations of sea water and of the motlier li(piors from salt works the author 

 suggests the domestic manufacture of potash salts for fertilizing purposes as y, 



