728 EXPERIMENT STATIOlSr RECORD. fVol. 3G 



The Garrison and Philipsburg phosphate fields, Montana, J. T. Pahdee 

 (U. S. Geol. Survey BtiJ. 640-K (1911), pp. 195-228, pis. 2, figs. 5).— This is a 

 report of an investigation of two phosphate beds covering the northeastern part 

 of Granite County and a small adjoining part of Powell County in southwestern 

 Montana. 



It is stated tliat " workable deposits of high-grade rocli phosphate (contain- 

 ing 60 per cent or more tricalcium phosphate) occur in both tlie Garrison and 

 Philipsburg fields. That in the Garrison field lies from 6 to 10 miles north of 

 the town of Garrison and is easily accessible, and the portion considered as 

 available to mining contains by estimate 97,000,000 long tons. . . . About one- 

 third of the amount lies above the natural drainage levels, and much of the por- 

 tion can be very readUy extracted by means of adits driven along the phos- 

 phate bed." 



[Biotite, phonolite, and similar mineral substances as sources of potash 

 for plants], P. V. Chikikov (T. C. Tcpiirikov) (Iz Resul't. Veget. Opytov Lab. 

 Rabot (Rec. Trav. Lab. Agron.), Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst., 10 (1914), pp. 

 366-370; Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 22 (1916), 

 No. 2, pp. 126-130). — Experiments are reported which indicate that biotite and 

 muscovite, and rocks containing nepheline and biotite, are very good sources of 

 potash for plants ; on the other hand, orthoclase and other forms of feldspar 

 contain potash in a very unavailable form. Ammonium salts which increase 

 the availability of phosphorites do not give like results with the slightly soluble 

 potash minerals. The potash of artificial zeolite, which is very available in 

 solutions containing salts of other bases, becomes almost unavailable if the 

 possibility of exchange of the potash of the zeolite and other bases is removed. 

 The effect produced by various potash minerals on plants is proportional to 

 their power of exchanging potash with other bases. 



Blast-furnace slag- as a source of bases for acid soils, J. W. Ames (Mo. BuI. 

 Ohio Sta., 1 (1916), No. 12, pp. 359-362) .—Pot experiments are reported, the 

 results of which are taken to indicate " that furnace slag is not as efficient as 

 limestone or lime. The use of slag as a substitute for either on acid soils is 

 not recommended in any other than an experimental way. To obtain the 

 same effect on acid soils as would result from moderate application of lime 

 or ground limestone, a much larger amount of slag would be required." 



The fertilizer value of city waste. — I. The composition of garbage, VV. J. 

 O'Brien and J. K. Lindemuth (Jour. Indus, and Engvn. Chcin., 9 (1917), No. 1, 

 pp. 49-54).- — Analyses of 75 samples of garbage taken at regular intervals 

 throughout a year in the District of Columbia showed that there was an unim- 

 portant seasonal variation in the moisture content, the maximum falling In 

 July and the minimum in April. " This seems to be a product of a seasonal 

 change both in diet and rainfall. It fails to show that it is of sufficient magni- 

 tude seriously to affect the commercial success of a garbage-rendering plant. 



" The analysis of 128 samples of garbage taken from 16 sections, of known 

 characteristics, of the city through a range of time of four or five months failed 

 to show any marked or consistent variations. The conclusion is indicated that 

 the kitchen refuse from the establishments of the various cla.s.ses of inhabitants 

 is essentially alike in content of fats and the elements of fertilizer value. 

 This is without regard to relative quantities. Its importance lies in the fact 

 that it tends to refute the prevalent opinion that the garbage of certain cities 

 can not be rendered profitably because of the nature of its inhabitants." 



Commercial fertilizers, 1916, C. D. Woods et al. (Maine Sta. Off. Insp. 80 

 (1916), pp. 137-196). — This bulletin contains the results of actual and guarantied 

 analyses of 1,112 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials collected for 



