FERTILIZERS. 937 



nitrate of soda on fodder beets, (1) on alluvial soil recently drained, 

 very rich in organic matter and nitrogen, and with a humus subsoil also 

 rich in nitrogen, and (2) a dry gravelly soil, poor in nitrogen. Analyses 

 (food constituents) of the beets grown are reported. 



There was a profitable return in both cases from the use of nitrate, 

 even with the larger applications, but naturally the return was greatest 

 in case of the gravelly soil poor in nitrogen. 



The results show in general that the nitrate was effective only when 

 used in connection with a sufficient supply of the mineral elements 

 phosphoric acid, potash, and lime; and indicate that the exclusive and 

 repeated use of nitrogenous fertilizers destroys the equilibrium in the 

 soil and reduces the yield. 



Observations regarding the relative assimilability of various 

 forms of nitrogen upon an acid soil, limed and unlimed, H. J. 

 Wheeler, B. L. Hartwell, and G. E. Adams (Rhode Island Sta. 

 Rpt. 1897, pp. 241-253, pis. 2). — This is a summary account of pot 

 experiments begun in 1893 (E. S. K., 7, p. 378). The experiments have 

 been made in pots 18 in. in diameter and 26 in. deep. Like quantities 

 of dissolved boneblack, muriate of potash, and nitrogen in several 

 forms (dried blood, tankage or ground leather, nitrate of soda, and 

 sulphate of ammonia) have been added annually to each pot. Corn 

 was grown in 1893, oats in 1894, rye in 189,">, and barley in 1896 and 

 1897. The pots were divided into 2 series, one limed and the other 

 unlimed. The data reported include yield of crop, percentage of nitro- 

 gen in dry matter, and total nitrogen removed by the crop. The 

 results are summarized as follows: 



"On a very acid (sour) soil sulphate of ammonia has worked like a poison instead 

 of as an effective fertilizer. 



"Where air-slaked lime was applied with sulphate of ammonia, the nitrogen 

 proved nearly as valuable as like quantities in form of nitrate of soda. 



"Dried blood, on the acid soil, yielded some nitrogen to the plants and proved its 

 marked superiority to the leather. 



"When used in connection with lime the nitrogen of the dried blood became 

 nearly as effective as like amounts in the form of nitrate of soda, while nitrogen in 

 the form of leather was very ineffective even when, by liming, the conditions for 

 its nitrification were made as favorable as possible. That the conditions for nitrifi- 

 cation were favorable in the limed pots is shown by the fact that the nitrogen of 

 the sulphate of ammonia and dried blood became almost as effective as nitrate of 

 soda. 



"These results bring out plainly the fact that upon an acid soil, where nitrifica- 

 tion progresses but slowly, much of the money invested in the best forms of organic 

 nitrogen, such as blood, meat, and fish, is practically wasted, and since these forms 

 make up the major part of the nitrogen of most of the commercial fertilizers sold 

 in the State, the importance of testing soils for their acidity and supplying lime 

 where needed can not be too strongly insisted upon." 



Observations in connection with a soil test continued for 8 

 successive years, H. J. Wheeler and J. A. Tillinghast (Rhode 

 Island Sta. Rpt. 1897, pp. 177-184).— This is an account of a continua- 

 tion of an experiment begun in 1890 (E. S. It., 9, p. 936), in which 



