19181 SOILS FERTILIZERS. 423 



tilizer treatments followed applications of 1,000 and 2,000 lbs. of tankage 

 per acre. 



Concerning farm manures, R. T. Bitrdick {Vermont Sta. Bui. 206 {1917), pp. 

 53-72). — Thi.s article, dealing with farm manures, their chemical composition, 

 physical characteri.stics, preservation, application, and use, under Vermont con- 

 ditions, is a slightly more detailed account of the same subject previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 16, p. 245). 



The manufacture of commercial fertilizers, J. L. Hills {Vermont Sta. Bui. 

 207 {1917), pp. 4S, pis. 8, fig. 1). — This bulletin sets forth in a comprehensive 

 manner tire present status of fertilizer manufacturing in the North Atlantic 

 States, embracing a discussion of the raw materials ; manufacturing processes, 

 including the manufacture of sulphuric acid and a description of the wet-, 

 base-, and dry-mix processes; and manufacturing and selling costs. 



Sterilized animal meal {Indian Tea Assoc, Sci. Uept. Quart. Jour., No. ^ 

 {1916), pp. 137-141)- — The process of manufacture of so-called sterilized animal 

 meal from the carcasses of dead animals is described. 



" The special merits of sterilized animal meal are due to the fact that it is 

 a concentrated organic manure containing high percentages of nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid, in various degrees of availability. . . . The best results are 

 usually obtained when it is used on light well-drained soils, but it also does 

 well on certain heavier soils." 



The fixation of nitrogen, J. E. Buchek {Jour. Indus, and Enyin. Chem., 'J 

 {1917), No. 8, pp. 233-253, figs. 16; abs. in Metallurg. and Chem. Engin., 16 

 {1917), No. 6, pp. 315-317; Sci. Amer. Sup., 83 (1917), No. 2153, p. 215; Sci. 

 Amer., 116 {1917), No. 15, p. 373; Metallurg. and Chem. Eng., 16 {1917), No. 2, 

 p. 82; Amer. Jour. Sci., 4. ser., 43 {1917), No. 256, p. 329; Sci. Abs., Sect. B— 

 Elect. Engin., 20 {1917), No. 235, pp. 231, 232; Engineering [London], 103 {1917), 

 No. 2682, p. 505). — In thi.s paper it is stated that experiments showed that the 

 necessity for electric power in nitrogen fixation may be done away with by 

 using chemical means. The substance of the discovery is that nitrogen will 

 combine with an alkali and carbon in the presence of iron as a catalyst pro- 

 ducing cyanid. Soda ash and powdered iron or iron ore were mixed with pow- 

 dered coke. " Upon heating this mixture in an ordinary furnace and running 

 air over it, the result is cyanid of soda, leaving the iron uncombined. In spite 

 of this fact, that the iron is in the end untouched by the action, if it be omitted 

 no action takes place." 



It was further found that letting waste carbon dioxid gas into the sodium 

 cyanid solution resulted in the production of urea. 



The synthesis of ammonia by the Haber process, R. O. E. Davis and H. 

 Beyan {Amer. Pert., 47 {1917), No. 7, pp. 29, 30).— This process is described. 



Making available the organic nitrogen of leather, hair, wool waste, and 

 muck or peat, R. E. Rose {Amer. Pert., .^7 {1917), No. 7, pp. 24-26).— This is a 

 brief review and discussion of the subject presented in a paper before the 

 fifty-fifth annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. 



Solubility of mineral phosphates and superphosphates in dilute mineral 

 and organic acids, A. Aita {Ann. Ghim. Appl. [Rome], 9 {1917), pp. 200-210; 

 abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 36 {1917), No. 15, p. 897).— In each determina- 

 tion 2.5 gm. of the phosiihate was digested for 30 minutes at from 14 to 15° C. 

 with 2.50 cc. of the dilute sulphuric, hydrochloric, formic, acetic, oxalic, tartaric, 

 or citric acid solutions, the mixture being frequently stirred. The mineral acids 

 were used in strengths of 0.01 to 0.1 gm. equivalent per liter and the organic 

 acids in 0.25 or 1 gm. equivalent per liter. 



499&4°— 18 ^3 



