426 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the author lead to the conclusion that the nitrogen content of soils is 

 increased by culture of leguminous plants due to the assimilation of 

 the free nitrogen of the air by such plants. Grass is especially effective 

 in protecting the soil from loss of nitrogen by washing and by decom- 

 position. The cereals, on the other hand, rapidly reduce the nitrogen 

 content of the soil. Experiments during from 20 to 30 years with 

 different kinds of fertilizers and manures have shown that the applica- 

 tion of commercial fertilizers containing nitrogen does not increase the 

 store of nitrogen in the soil. The use of barnyard manure, however, 

 has, in every case, resulted in a decided increase in this respect. 



On the production of barnyard manure, P. Gay and Dupont 

 (Ann. Agron., 24 (1898), No. 3, pp. 123-130, fig. i). — For the purpose of 

 determining the comparative losses of nitrogen when manure is removed 

 from stables only at long intervals and when it is removed daily, the 

 authors first determined the amount of nitrogen consumed in the food 

 and excreted in the urine and feces of a sheep during 7 days. The 

 food used was alfalfa and oats. The feces and urine were collected by 

 means of rubber bags and harness. The total nitrogen in the food 

 consumed during the 7 days was 171.1 gm. The amount excreted (98 

 gin. in the urine and 65.4 in the feces) was 163.4 gin. The amount of 

 nitrogen not recovered in the urine and feces was therefore 7.7 gm. or 

 4 per cent of the amount in the food. 



In the second experiment the same animal was kept for 14 days in a 

 stall, being supplied each day with sufficient litter to absorb all urine. 

 The nitrogen in the food consumed was 315.1 gm., in the litter used, 

 53.1 gm., and in the manure produced, 321.0 gm. The loss of nitrogen 

 was therefore 76.3 gm. or 22 per cent of the original nitrogen. These 

 results confirm in general those obtained by Miintz and Girard (E. S.R., 

 4, p. 680.) 



Fertilizers (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1897, pp. 15-75). — Much of the 

 data in this article has already been published (B. S. E., 0, p. 034). Sta- 

 tistics are given showing the quantity and value of fertilizers used in 

 New Jersey in 1896, and comparing the trade of this year with that of 

 preceding years. The market prices of various fertilizing materials are 

 reviewed, with trade values of fertilizing ingredients for 1897; and 

 analyses and valuations are given of 453 samples of fertilizing materi- 

 als, including nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, dried 

 and ground iish, tankage, ground bone, dissolved boneblack, dissolved 

 South Carolina rock and other mineral phosphates, muriate of potash, 

 sulphate of potash, kainit, double sulphate of potash and magnesia, 

 wood ashes, tobacco stems, marl, garbage fertilizer, wool combings, 

 screenings, mussels, granulated tobacco and sulphur, and home-mixed 

 and factory-mixed fertilizers. 



From replies to a circular sent to firms selling fertilizers in New 

 Jersey it appears that the total consumption of fertilizers in the State 

 during 1896 was 56,355 tons, valued at $1,612,718 ; complete manures 

 representing 77 per cent of the total amount and 81 per cent of the total 



