766 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mustard grown iu pots. In one series of experiments the amount of water 

 in tlie pots was kept constantly at IS per cent (00 per cent of the total 

 water capacity of the soil). Taking the water cousumi)tion of the 

 plants on tlie soil without application of potash as 100, that on the soil 

 receiving 890 lbs. of kainit i)er acre was 90.5; 1,780 lbs. of kainit, 88.4; 

 1,780 lbs. of carnallit, 91.9 ; 1,780 lbs. of common salt, 61.2. With 8 per 

 cent of water in the soil (27 per cent of the total water capacity) the 

 figures were as follows: Without potash, 100; with 890 lbs. of kainit, 

 77.1; 1,780 lbs. of kainit, 38.2; 1,780 lbs. of carnallit, 68.9; 1,780 lbs. of 

 salt, 55. 



It appears that the potash salts have a decided inlluence in conserv- 

 ing the moisture of the soil, which may be of great importance in a dry 

 season. 



The real value of Natural Plant Food, L. L. Van 8lykk {Nno York State Sta. Bid. 

 108, n. ser., pp. 225-230).— "Qh&mutal analysis iit tliis station shows that the materials 

 [composiug this substance] are mostly in iinavailahle forms as plant food. An aver- 

 age of 3 samples shows the following composition: Total phosphoric acid, 22.21 per 

 cent; insoluble phosphoric acid, 20.81 percent; aA^ailablo phosphoric acid, 1.40 per 

 cent; potash soluble in water, 0.13 per cent. 



''Natural Plant Food is really a mixture of some rock phosphate (probably Flor- 

 ida soft phosphate) with glaucouite, a mineral containing potash in an insoluble 

 form, commonly known as ' green sand marl.' 



"The selling price of Natural Plant Food varies usually from $25 to $28 a ton; 

 its real agricultural value as iilaut food is probably below $10 a ton at a lil)eral 

 estimate." 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, L. L. Vax Slyke {New York State Sia. Bui. 

 107, n.ser., pp. 163-223). — Thisb-illetin includes explanations of terms used in stating 

 the results of analyses of fertilizers, notes on valuation, a comparison of selling jiriccs 

 and commercial valuations, a list of manufacturers complying with the provision of 

 the fertilizer law, and analyses of 313 samples of fertilizers examined during the 

 spring of 1896. 



"Of the 313 diiferent brands collected, 139 were below the manufacturer's guaran- 

 ty-analysis in one or more constituents, in amounts varying from 0.03 to 4.41 per 

 cent. 



"The amount of nitrogen was below the guaranty-anal j'sis of the mauufacturer 

 in 40 brands, the deficiency varying from 0.03 to 0.93 jier cent and averaging 0.28 

 per cent. In 20 of the 40 brands, the deficiency was not greater than 0.25 per cent; 

 in 14 brands, it was over 0.25 and below 0.50 per cent; in (5 brands, it was over 0.50 

 and below 1 per cent. 



"The amount of phosphoric acid was below the manufacturer's guaranty-analysis 

 in 84 brands, the deficiency varying i'rom 0.04 to 4.11 per cent and averaging 0.77 per 

 cent. In 26 of the 84 brands, the deficiency was less than 0.25 per cent; in 13 cases, 

 it was above 0.25 and below 0.50 per cent ; in 26 brands, it was above 0.50 and below 

 1 per cent; in 13 brands, the deficiency was above 1 and below 2 per cent; iu 2 

 brands, it was above 2 and below 3 per cent; iu 2 brands, it was above 3 and below 

 4 per cent ; and in 2 brands, it Avas above 4 and below 5 per cent. 



"The amount of potash was below the manufacturer's guaranty-analysis in 57 

 different brands, the deficiency varying from 0.04 to 2.91 per cent and averaging 0.56 

 per cent. In 21 of the 57 brands, the deficiency was below 0.25 per cent; in 13 

 brands, it was above 0.25 and below 0.50 jier cent; iu 13 brands, it was above 0.50 

 and below 1 per cent; in 9 brand.s, the deficiency was above 1 and below 2 per cent ; 

 and in 1 brand, it was above 2 and l)elow 3 per cent. 



"The retail selling price of the brands collected varied from $6 to $65 a ton, and 



