FERTILIZERS. 877 



may be explained by the fact that the couditioiis are not so favorable 

 to the production of ammonia ;i.s in the experiments here reported. 



(9) The almost complete prevention of the loss of nitrogen in the 

 free state at ordinary temperatures by the addition of caustic lime and 

 carbonate of lime is undoubtedly due to the destruction of the micro- 

 iirganisms protlucing this cliange. It m;iy be found desirable in itrac- 

 tice to mix caustic lime or marl with manure in order to prevent the 

 loss of nitrogen in the free state and to insure against the volatiliza 

 tion of ammonia by covering the heap with earth. 



(10) In these experiment ammoniacal fermentation was not checked 

 by even the largest applications of caustic lime and superphos[)hate. 

 In fact, in most cases it was promoted. It was also but slightly 

 affected by the addition of 1 per cent of sulphuric acid. 



Chemical experiments toward rendering available the phos- 

 phoric acid of mineral phosphates, F. T. Shutt {Canada Exptl. 

 Farms Ept. IS'jrjypp. 217, 21S). — Experiments with this end in view were 

 commenced in 1893. These showed that fusion with bisulphate of soda 

 rendered a large proportion of the phosphoric acid of the ai>atite 

 soluble. 



"Since 1893 further work has heeii done, the details of whicli liave not yet hcen 

 ])ubli8hed. These latter experiments comprise the following: 



" (1) Heating together finely ground phosphate and sulphate of soda and treating 

 the residue with 2 per cent citric acid solution. The results showed that jihosphoric 

 acid eqnivalent to 35 to 37 per cent of the phosphate had hein dissolved. 



"(2) Ignition of the iinely ground phosphate with sodium liisulphate and treat- 

 ment of the mass with 2 per cent citric acid solution. In this case 50 per cent of the 

 apatite was found to have been rendered soluble in the acid solution. 



"The by-product that was used in these exjjcriments contained only a small \no- 

 portion of bisulphate, the larger i>ait being sulphate of soda. It did not yield, 

 therefore, as large an amount of soluble phosphoric acid as when jture bisulphate 

 was used."' 



Fertilizers {Kew Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1895, pp. 13-9'J). — This is practi- 

 cally an enlarged rejiriut of Bulletin 113 of the station (K. S. If., 7, p. 

 940), and includes the text of the 8tate fertilizer law; notes on methods 

 of sampling and analysis; a discussion of trade values of fertilizing 

 ingredients, and of the valuation of fertilizers; home mixing of fertili- 

 zers; fertilizing value of natural and waste i>roducts; avaiUible phos- 

 phoric acid in ground bone; and tabulated analyses and valuations of 

 056 samples of fertilizing materials, including nitrate ofsoda, dried blood, 

 dry-ground fish, hoof jneal, grouml bone and tankage, bone, boneblack, 

 superphos[)hate, mineral phosphates, muriate of potash, suli)hale of 

 potash, kainit, street sweepings, saltpeter waste, snutf sand (tobacco 

 dust), hair and wool waste, acid and wood alcohol waste, and duck 

 grass, and home-mixed and factory-mixed fertilizers. 



Xatnral and wantc products. — •• Inconuection with lulictary study conducted by this 

 station in aXew Brunswick household during tlie month of January, the total waste 

 and refuse of the table and kitchen was collected with the idea and for the definito 

 puriitise of determining the amount of plant food contained therein. The family 

 consisted of 1 man, 1 woman, 1 boys and 2 girls, and the wastes collected in 3 weeks 



