122 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 38 



No. .9, pp. 1210-1218). — Experiments \vith barley on sandy loam soil fertilized 

 with potash and different phosphates, and to which were added sodium nitrate, 

 ammonium clilorid, and ammonium sulphate separately in amounts correspond- 

 ing to 134 lbs. of nitrogen per acre, are reported. 



It was found that both where superphosphate and bone meal were used, the 

 ammonium salts produced results inferior to those produced by nitrate. On 

 the whole, better results were obtained with ammonium chlorid than with 

 anunonium sulphate. Where bone meal and ammonium salts were used the 

 addition of magnesium carbonate increased the yield, but where bone meal was 

 used with sodium nitrate the addition of magnesium carbonate decreased the 

 yield. Where basic slag was used there was little difference between the results 

 obtained with ammonium salts and sodium nitrate. 



It is concluded that " the hypothesis of a progressive acidification of the sub- 

 stance of the plants must be dismissed, and it is more in keeping with tlie facts 

 to assume that what really takes place is a poisonous action of the ammoniacal 

 salts exerted direct on the plant. Recent experiments appear to show that the 

 carbonates of calcium and magnesium promote the processes of nitrification by 

 bringing about the transformation of the injurious ammoniacal salts into nitrates 

 which are not injurious, hence their beneficial action." 



Manufacture of synthetic nitrates by electric power, E. K. Scott {Jour. 

 Soc. CJieni. Indus., 36 {1911), No. U, pp. 111-111, figs. 1; abs. in Sci. Abs., Sect. 

 B— Elect. Engin., 20 {1911), No. 10, p. 369).— This is a discussion of different 

 processes and equipments for manufacturing synthetic nitrates by electric power, 

 and includes a comparison of these with the so-called indirect methods involving 

 the manufacture of calcium carbide and cyanamid and the oxidation of ammonia. 



Manganese as a catalyst in atmospheric nitrogen fixation by plants 

 through bacterial agencies, A. ue G. Rocasolano {Rev. R. Acad. Cien. Madrid, 

 U {1916), No. 10, pp. 6S1-693, fig. 1; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], In- 

 ternat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 1 {1916), No. 9, pp. 1256, 1251; Jour. Soc. 

 Chcm. Indus., 36 {1911), No. 5, p. 299). — "Quantities of 100 cc. of culture 

 bouillon of known nitrogen content and containing mannitol and varying amounts 

 of manganese chlorid were inoculated with pure cultures of Bacillus radicicola, 

 Clostridium pasteurianum, and Azotobactcr chroococcum, incubated at 22-23° 

 C. for 25 days, and after sterilization analyzed for total nitrogen by Kjeldahl's 

 method. With the exception of B. radicicola the organisms did not function 

 in the total absence of manganese, but in all cases its presence accelerated nitro- 

 gen fixation, the optimum quantity being 0.006 gm. of manganese ion per 100 cc. 

 of bouillon. With this amount three times more nitrogen was fixed than in the 

 control vessel. Acceleration was retarded when the manganese exceeded the 

 optimum, and with 0.02 gm. the fixation itself was retarded. 



" Under field conditions crops would be stimulated by fertilizers containing 

 manganese in amount not exceeding 0.006 gm. per 100 gm. of soil. Most soils 

 already contain more than this amount of manganese, but it is mostly in an 

 unavailable form. In estimating the quantity of this catalyst to be applied, the 

 amount already present in a soluble form must be taken into consideration." 



Reversion of acid phosphate, C. C James {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem.. 

 9 {1911), No. 7, p. 682).— It was found that by the addition of 25 gm. each of 

 calcium osid, ungrouud coral sand, and unground brown guano, separately, to 

 475 gm. of acid phosphate the reversion of the phosphate with the coral sand 

 was 0.62 per cent in 5 days and 0.86 per cent in 20 days. With brown guano the 

 reversion was not so great, and with lime it was 3.75 times as much. 



Notes on the greensand deposits of the eastern United States, G. H. Ash 

 LEY {U. S. Geol. Survey Bui. 660-B {1911), pp. 21-58, pi. 1, fig. i).— This report 

 deals with the greensan4 deposits of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, 



