636 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



than the cow manure, and that the addition of glycerin resulted in a 

 most marked increase in the activity of the denitrifying organisms in 

 both kinds of manure. It was observed further that after a time 

 denitrification ceased, although nitrates were still present, but it com- 

 menced again immediately on the addition of more glycerin. 



The authors observed that when straw was put iuto a solution of 

 nitrates the nitrates were destroyed but that denitrification did not 

 start immediately. It was shown in this case by experiments similar 

 to those reported above that the inactivity of the denitrifying organ- 

 isms at the beginning was due to an insufficiency of assimilable car- 

 bonaceous matter. This was supplied to them only after the straw 

 had undergone partial decomposition. When glycerin was mixed with 

 the nitrate solution the denitrification began immediately on the 

 immersion of the straw in the solution; or if partially decomposed 

 straw was used denitrification began at once. 



Fertilizers [New Jersey St as. Rpt. 1896, pp. 19-110). — Most of the 

 material in this article has already been published.' Statistics are 

 given of the quantity and value of fertilizers used in New Jersey dur- 

 ing 1S95, comparing the trade of this year with that of preceding years. 

 The marketplaces of various fertilizing materials are reviewed, with trade 

 values of fertilizing ingredients for 189G, and analyses and valuations are 

 given of 495 samples of fertilizing materials, including nitrate of soda, 

 sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, dried and ground fish, tankage, 

 ground bone, dissolved South Carolina rock phosphate, Thomas slag, 

 muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, kainit, ashes, nitrate of potash 

 from tobacco extracts, tobacco stems, marl, stone lime, crematory gar- 

 bage, wool waste, sea jminpkin, and home-mixed and factory-mixed 

 fertilizers. 



A review of market prices of fertilizing materials for 7 years shows 

 that the difference between wholesale and retail prices of nitrogen in 

 1895 was 2G.5 per cent. "This is much wider than ever before and is 

 largely due to the unusually low wholesale prices which ruled for all 

 ammoniates during 1895. In the case of available phosphoric acid the 

 difference has been diminished about 21 per cent, while in potash there 

 is a slight increase of 1 per cent." 



The following table shows the deficiencies of the various brands 

 examined in 1895 and 1896: 



Agreement of actual composition with guaranteed composition of fertilizers, 1895 and 1896. 



New Jersey Stas. Bui. 117 (E. S. R., 8, p. 966). 



