484 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



1894 aucl 1895. The plau of experimeut and the materials used were 

 practically the .same during each year. The conclusion is drawn "that 

 dissolved leather when properly prepared yields as available a source of 

 nitrogen as the average animal matter used for fertilizing purposes. 

 The quantity of nitrogen obtained by the plants from sodium nitrate 

 being represented as equal to 100, the quantity obtained from dissolved 

 leather during 2 years has been shown to be equal to 70."^ 



The r61e of fat in fertilizers, J. H. Vooel {Deut. lanihr. Presse, 23 

 (ISIja), No. 74, J). (J'j9). — It is stated that in all fertilizers applied in the 

 fall or early spring a certain amount of fat, such as is present in pou- 

 drette, is beneficial. This is especially true in case of sandy soils in 

 which it is desirable to retard decomposition of organic matter. Only 

 in cases where quick action of the nitrogen is desired is fat harmful. 



Fertilizers {Mississipjii Sta. Bpt. 1895, pp. 48-52, 99-101). — This is a 

 general discussion of the jnost economical use of fertilizers based upon 

 the experience of the station in the use of fertilizers on different kinds 

 of soil and analyses and valuations of 1*8 samples: 



"The first essential in fertilizing laud is to secure and maintain au abundant sup- 

 ply of humus in all soils by the use of leguminous plants; on soils which are rich in 

 lime use jiotash freely with but little phosphoric acid; on soils which are poor in 

 lime use phosphate fertilizers freely with but little potash, and use nitrogenous ferti- 

 lizers only where humus is deficient and plant growth is weak. 



"When large amounts of fertilizers have been used we have found it more profit- 

 able to apply them broadcast before planting, but where the application is small (300 

 lbs. or less per acre) w^e found it better to put it in the drill and mix thoroughly with 

 the soil." 



The contest of the Holland experiment stations against the 

 adulteration of kainit with chlorids, A. Mayer {Landiv. Vers. Stat. 

 47 [1890), No. 4-5, pp. 377-387). — Sjollema, of the Groningen station, has 

 published analyses of kainit collected in Holland which contained very 

 variable amounts of chlorin, in the majority of cases much more than 

 genuine kainit contains. Subsequently in reporting the results of 

 analyses of such materials the rule was adopted of stating that those 

 sami)les containing an excessive amount of chlorin (over 30 per cent) 

 were not true kainits. This has provoked the opposition of the ferti- 

 lizer manufacturers, but it is insisted that they have no right to sell 

 much of the potash salt at present on the market under the name of 

 kainit. They are justified in using only some such general term as 

 " potash salt" to designate it. 



Report for 1895 of the chemical laboratory of the Agricultural 

 Institute of Alnarp, M. Weibull {(Jhem. Zt<j., 20 {1890), No. 07, pp. 

 649, 650). — A brief report on the analyses made, such as fertilizers 

 (including herring guano), feeding stuffs, and dairy products. Herring 

 guano is said to be manufactured at 16 factories on the west coast of 

 Sweden , Several samples analyzed contained 10.5 per cent of nitrogen, 



1 Connecticut State Sta. Rpt. 1895, p. 99 (E. S. R., 8, p. 387). 



