968 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the fall, were top-dressed in the spring with kainit and gypsum. The 

 top-dressed plats showed a decided increase in yield during 3 years 

 (18!)3-'95) over those not so treated, the gypsum apparently being more 

 effective than the kainit. In the third series of experiments equal 

 quantities of bone meal and Thomas slag were compared on barley. 

 The results with Thomas slag compared very favorably with those pro- 

 duced by the bone meal.— p. fireman. 



Experiments with mineral fertilizers on the black soil of the 

 Kursk government, Russia, in 1895, A. Shekoun {Selskoye Khoz- 

 j/nisti'o I Lycsovodstvo, 182 {1896)j June, i^p. 409-417). — Two series ol 

 experiments were made, one on a stiff soil, which is fertile but difficult 

 to work; the other on a lighter soil, which is easier to cultivate but 

 suffers more than the first in seasons of drought and excessive rainfall. 



Mechanical and chemical analyses of these soils gave the following 

 results : 



Light soil. 



Heavy soil. 



Water in air-dried soil 



The .soil dried at 110° C. contained — 



Coarse organic matter (litter, roots, etc.) 



Humus and water of con.stitution 



Coarse sand 



Medium sand 



Fine sand 



Clayey sand 



Finest particles separated by elutriation 



Nitrogen 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Potash 



Insoluble matter (in HCl) 



Per cent. 

 3. 130 



.171 



6.111 



2.180 



8.765 



16. 745 



10. 820 



55. 208 



.324 



.096 



.521 



.041 



85. 005 



Per cent. 

 4.040 



.128 



8.863 



.960 



9. 530 



18. 145 



12. 980 



49. 394 



.790 



.026 



.548 



.825 



85. 090 



Neither soil contained any carbon dioxid, but both were slightly acid 

 and contained traces of ferrous compounds. 



Nitrate of soda, phosphorite meal, sunflower ashes, and, in some 

 instances, calcium carbonate were experimented with on 56 three-tenths- 

 acre plats on each of the above soils, the crops grown being poppies, 

 peas, lentils, oats, flax, spring wheat, sunflowers, and beets. Some of 

 the plats in each case also received an application of 7 tons of straw 

 or 18 tons of barnyard manure per acre. The results were inconclusive 

 as regards nitrate of soda, but gave decisive indications as to the effects 

 of phosphorite meal. Plats on which it was used gave increased yields 

 in case of peas, flax, sunflowers, and wheat. 



The world's consumption of fertilizers, ]\lAizii;RE.s {VT.ngrnis, 12 (1S97), Ao. 

 15, pp. 34S, 349). — The amouut aud value of fertilizers annually consumed in the world 

 are jriven as follows : 



Superphosphate 



Kitrate of soda 



Suli)hate of ammonia 

 Potash salts 



Amount. 



To7is, 2,200 lbs. 



4, 000, 000 



1, 100, 000 



250, 000 



1,000,000 



Value. 



Dollais. 

 48, 000, 000 

 41, 800, 000 

 10, 000, 000 

 20, 000, 000 



