

FERTILIZERS. 123 



age guaranteed being 3.98 per cent and the average found being 4.16 per cent. In 

 131 brands of complete fertilizers the amount of potasb found was above the amount 

 guaranteed, the excess varying from 0.02 to 2.35 per cent and averaging 0.52 per 

 cent. In 43 brands the potash was below tbe guaranteed amount, the deficiency 

 varying from 0.01 to 3.98 per cent and averaging 0.60 per cent. In 20 of these cases 

 the deficiency was below 0.25 per cent; in 8 cases it was above 0.25 and below 0.50 

 per cent; in 6 cases it was above 0.50 and below 1 per cent; in (i eases it was above 

 1 and below 2 per cent; in 2 cases it was above 2 and below 3 per cent, and in 1 ease 

 it was above 3 and below 4 per cent. In 9 cases the 174 brands of complete fertili- 

 zers contained the potash in the form of sulphate free from an excess of chlorids. 



"The retail selling price of the complete fertilizers varied from $20 to $51 a ton, 

 and averaged -+'30. l'5. The retail cost of the separate ingredients unmixed was $21.22, 

 or $9.03 less than the selling price." 



The present knowledge of the application of fertilizers (Ztschr. landw. Ver. 

 Hiss, a, 1801, Xo. 20, pp. 177-180). — A table gives the quantities of nitrogen, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid taken from the soil by different crops and the quantities of 

 fertilizers required to supply them. The basis of the fertilizers is barnyard manure, 

 and commercial fertilizers are added in such quantities as to make an economical 

 application of plant food. 



How shall we fertilize? GERLACH (Landw. Centr. Bl, Posen, 25 (1897), No. 28, pp. 

 141, 142). — A popular article on manuring with various commercial fertilizers and 

 other fertilizing substances. 



Peas as green manure, I. Ford (Citrograph, 20 (1897). No. 19, p. 1). — The author's 

 experience with barley and other cereals, cowpeas, crimson and other varieties of 

 clover, ilowering or sweet peas, square-podded pea, lupines, and Prussian Blue or 

 Canadian held peas as green manure for orchards is reported. The field peas have 

 proved most satisfactory. Directions for their culture are given. 



Dangers incurred in employing manure from cities as fertilizers for pastures, 

 F. Claes and 15. Moens (Rapports Preliminaires J' Congres Internat. a" Ayr., Bruxtlles, 

 1895. pp. 795-797). 



Basic slag as a fertilizer, F. E. Thompson (Sclent. Amer. Suppl., 43(1897), Xo. 

 1105, pp. 17659, 176GO). — A very complete summary of results of experiments with 

 this fertilizer in the United States. 



Concerning the poisonous effect of Chile saltpeter containing perchlorate 

 (Ztschr. landw. Ver. Hessen, 1897, No. 26, p. 233). 



Fertilizer analyses, II. B. Battle (Xortk Carolina Sta, />'»/ 136, pp. 3-33). — 

 Analyses and valuation of a large number of fertilizers collected during the spring 

 and fall of 1896 are given in tables, accompanied by the usual notes and explanations. 



A warning in regard to compost peddlers, II. B. Battle (North Carolina Sta. 

 Hut. 137, pi>, ,11-41). — Attention is called in this bulletin to a fertilizer formula which, 

 with the ingredients required, is ottered to farmers at an exorbitant price, and "the 

 farmers of the State are urgently advised not to pay any money for fertilizing for- 

 mulas, as the station is ready and willing to suggest any mixture for any crop, using 

 any materials at hand or most convenient to be had." 



The fertility of the land, I. P. Roberts (New York: The Macllillan Co., 1897, pp. 

 XVII, 415). — This book is one of the Rural Science Series, edited by L. H. Bailey. 

 As the subtitle states, it is "a summary sketch of the relationship of farm prac- 

 tice to the maintenance and increasing of the productivity of the soil. - ' While 

 King's book on " The Soil," in the same series, discussed the subject from the more 

 strictly scientific standpoint, the present work approaches it from the farm side and 

 "combines the best teachings of science with the philosophy of farm practice." 

 The book opens with an introductory in the form of a chat with the young farmers. 

 Then follow chapters on an inventory of the land ; the evolution of the plow ; tilling 

 the land; conservation of moisture; irrigation and drainage; farm manures; manures 

 produced by various animals; the waste of manures; the care, preservation, and 

 application of manures; nitrogen and nitrification; the phosphoric acid and potash 



