field crops: 543 



free from all tendon, cartilage, etc.) was about one-third as efficient as a source of 

 nitrogen to the maize crop as cotton-seed meal, and that the coarser grades of bone 

 supplied but very little nitrogen to the growing crop." 



On the denitrification processes, A. Ehrenberg (Chem. Ztg., 21 {1897), No. 88, 

 p. 922). — Attention is called to the fact that the author's results referred to above by 

 Pfeiffer (see p. 536) were obtained in studies of putrefaction where a variety of 

 organisms were present, which may account for the different behavior in the pres- 

 ence of oxygen and air. 



Fertilizing value of "lake mud," F. W. Woll (Wisconsin Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp. 807, 

 SOS). — One sample was examined with the following result: Ash 26.88, nitrogen 3.56, 

 phosphoric acid 0.28, and potash 0,15 percent. The fertilizing value of such mud 

 is briefly discussed. 



Marls of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp. 295-802).— *A reprint of Bulle- 

 tin 51 of the station (E. S. R., 8, p. 208). 



The excessive use of manure, G. Paturel (Ann. Agron., 23 (1897), No. 8, pp. 

 369-375). — The article reports and briefly discusses the results of examinations of 

 spots (if a soil on which heaps of manure were allowed to lie during a wet period 

 before seeding and which were thus rendered unproductive for beets. The soil was 

 found to be impregnated with ammonium carbonate. This, however, soon nitrified 

 and the poisonous properties of the soil were thus removed. The danger of loss by 

 leaching of manure and of nitrates in the soil is explained. 



The maintenance of soil fertility: Commercial fertilizers, F. W. Woll ( Wis- 

 consin Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp. 260-294, .1:/. 822, chart 1).— This is a reprint of matter already 

 published in Bulletins 47 and 4!) of the station (E. S. R., 8, pp. 115,212). A colored 

 chart shows the fertilizing constituents in the more important feeding stuffs. 



An examination of samples of Thomas phosphate, M. Maercker (Landiv. Vers. 

 Stat., 49 (1897), No. 3, pp. 231-238).— -The author reports results obtained by eight of 

 the German experiment stations on samples of Thomas phosphate, by the Wagner 

 molybdate method, the Bottcher citrate method, and the potassium citrate method 

 of Mach-Passon. The Wagner and Bottcher methods gave uniformly concordant 

 results, while the Mach-Passon method gave low results in every case, the difference 

 varying from 0.10 per cent to 0.75 per cent. A discontinuance of the further use of 

 the last was recommended.— J. P. STREET. 



Needed reforms in fertilizer inspection ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division of Chemistry 

 Circ.3,p,3). — This is a report of a conference at New York City, May 18, 1897, 

 between the committee appointed at the preliminary meeting of Official Inspectors 

 of Fertilizers at New Haven, Connecticut, March 9, 1897, and a committee of the 

 Association of Manufacturers and Dealers in Fertilizers in the United States. The 

 object of this conference was to discuss uniform methods of fertilizer control and to 

 take steps to secure such methods. 



The Wisconsin fertilizer law ( Wisconsin Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp. 821, 322). — Text of 

 the State fertilizer law of 1895. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Some results of the experiments with tobacco fertilizers for 

 the five years 1892-'96, B. H. Jenkins (Connecticut State Sta. Bpt. 

 1896, pp. 310-333). — This is a report on some of the results obtained 

 from experiments begun in 1892 and of which the crop of 1890 com- 

 pleted the series. Samples of the last crop were cased down for fermen- 

 tation at the time of making - this report, hence the final discussion of 

 the quality of the tobacco from the different plats is reserved until later. 

 The author here compares the average yields of the various plats for 

 11931— No. 6 1 



