FERTILIZERS. 937 



plants for determining the soil requirements, so far as concerns phosphoric acid. The 

 results of the 3 years indicate that out of the 35 plants employed in this soil test 

 (excepting, possibly, crimson (lover, white beans, sunflowers, and squashes), almost 

 any one of them would have answered in a satisfactory manner the question as to 

 what element was chiefly deficient in this soil.'' 



Observations for the purpose of ascertaining if a lack of lime 

 is more or less general in Rhode Island soils, 0. O. Flag*;, ET. 

 J. Wheeler, and G. E. Adams (Rhode Island Sta. Rpt. 1*96, pp. 282- 

 293, ph. 6). — This is a continuation of experiments of previous years 

 (E. S. R., 8, p. 580). The effect of lime in connection with other fertil- 

 izing materials was tested on barley and beets growing- on acid upland 

 soils at 11 different places in Ehode Island. 



"The results with barley have shown in a number of instances a benefit from lime, 

 even when it was applied in considerable quantity directly before the sowing of the 

 grain. In 1 instances Avhere the barley was not benefited, it seems probable that 

 such would have been the case had the lime been applied a year before, or had the 

 quantity been much less. In the experiment Avith beets they were benefited decid- 

 edly by liming, in every ease but one, the least gain obtained having been 21 per 

 cent, while in other cases the crop was increased 0, !), 20, and in one case even 100 

 times." . . . 



Further observations for the purpose of determining whether 

 the beneficial action of lime upon the soil of the experiment 

 station farm is due to any extent to its neutralizing action, II. .1. 

 Wheeler, G. M. Tucker, and B. L. Hartwell (Rhode Island Sta. 

 Rpt. 1896, pp. 291-318, pis. /). — An account is given of 5 series of experi- 

 ments with barley (4) and potatoes (1) grown in pots is in. in diameter 

 and 2G in. deep and of 1 series of experiments with barley and clover 

 on field plats. In all experiments phosphoric acid, potash, and nitro- 

 gen were supplied in sufficient amounts to meet the requirements of the 

 crops grown, and in different cases caustic lime and magnesia, potassium 

 and sodium carbonates, and wood ashes were used in amounts which 

 insured the same neutralizing effect. Parallel experiments with calcium 

 carbonate and sulphate were also made. The results are tabulated, 

 discussed, and summarized as follows: 



"When treated alike in other respects an ill effect from continuous applications 

 of sulphate of ammonia upon the experiment station soil was found to result 

 eventually in all cases, while this was not the case where an equivalent amount of 

 nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda was employed. The ill effect of sulphate of 

 ammonia can be prevented altogether by the employment in connection with it of 

 sufficient potassium carbonate in place of crude potassium chlorid (muriate of pot- 

 ash) or by the employment of wood ashes, air-slacked lime, sodium carbonate (soda 

 ash), or caustio magnesia. Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) was not found equal 

 in this respect to caustic magnesia; the same was true in a more marked degree. of 

 calcium sulphate (gypsum or land plaster) as compared with air-slacked lime. 

 Calcium sulphate failed to exert the same beneficial influence upou the growth of 

 potatoes as calcium carbonate, wood ashes, air-slacked lime, calcium acetate, and 

 calcium oxalate; all of which latter substances, if not already composed of or con- 

 taining calcium carbonate, are changed into that form within the soil. 



''These observations lead to the conclusion that aside from a beneficial, manorial, 

 or physical inlluence which air-slacked lime, wood ashes, calcium carbonate, potas- 



