048 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and fodder beets, and with 40 per cent potash salt on potatoes are reported. The 

 results show that the best results with potash salts as top-dressing were obtained in 

 case of winter grain, because the winter weather conditions were well suited to dis- 

 solve and distribute the salts in the soil. Potash salts should not be applied when 

 the plants are moist with rain or dew, since they will adhere to and injure the leaves. 

 The best results were obtained when the salts were applied in dry weather just before 

 a rain. 



On the potash, fertilizing of barley and the replacement of potash by soda, 

 P. Doll {Landw. Vers. Stat., 57 {1902), No. 5-6, pp. 471-476).— Fot experiments 

 with barley are reported in which the effect of the sulphates and chlorids of potas- 

 sium and sodium singly and combined in various ways were compared, the soil used 

 being a mixture of one-third sandy field soil and two-thirds pure river sand. The 

 chlorids of both potassium and sodium gave better results than the sulphates. This, 

 it is stated, is due in the case of the potassium chlorid to the greater diffusibility, 

 and in case of the sodium chlorid to its greater power of rendering the potash of the 

 soil available. The applications of soda were only slightly less effective than those 

 of potash, the best results being obtained with mixtures of the two. Analyses of the 

 crop show that as a rule the increase in yield was accompanied l)y an increase in the 

 l^roportion of potash or soda in the plant. 



Report of work of the Ivanov Agricultural Experiment Station of P. I. 

 Kharitonenko, Kharkov, 1901, J. IM. Zitukov {Rer.rn Zhur. Opnitii. Agron. [^.Tour. 

 Expt. L<mdiv.], 3 {1902), No. 1, pp. 69-76). — The report of the operations of this 

 station contains an account of experiments with fertilizers — superphosphates, Thomas 

 slag, untreated mineral phosphates, lime sludge from purification of beet juices, and 

 nitrate of soda — on chernozem soils. The effect of the nitrate in increasing the yield 

 was found to depend very largely upon the progress of nitrification in the soil, and 

 this in turn to a large extent upon the meteorological conditions. Thus in 1898 and 

 1899, when the available nitrogen in the soil was only 0.0018 per cent, the nitrate was 

 beneficial, but in 1900, with an available nitrogen content of 0.003 to 0.004 per cent 

 in the soil, it was not needed. When there was a sufficient quantity of available 

 nitrogen already in the soil the addition of nitrate lowered the quality of beets. The 

 lime sludge proved an effective fertilizer not only because of its lime content but on 

 account of the nitrogen, phosjihoric acid, and potash which it contains in considera- 

 ble amounts. It was shown that superphosphate was beneficial even during drought 

 and that its effect is not exhausted the first year. — p. fireman. 



Report on demonstration fertilizer experiments carried out in Lower Aus- 

 tria in 1901, O. Reitmair {Zt.sdtr. Landw. Versuchsw. Oesterr., 5 {1902), No. 11, 

 2)p. 1289-1357, pi. 1). — The results of cooperative experiments on potatoes and beets 

 are reported in detail and discussed. In these experiments fertilizers were distrib- 

 uted to 495 farmers, of whom 221 or 44.6 per cent returned reports which could be 

 used. The fertilizers, containing 35 kg. of nitrogen in nitrate of soda, 49 kg. of phos- 

 phoric acid in Thomas slag or superphosphate, and 28 kg. of potash in 40 per cent 

 potash salt per hectare, gave an average increase in yield of potatoes of 26 per cent 

 and of beets 32 per cent. 



On green manuring experiments in Pomerania, Baessler {Mitt. Dcut. Laticlw. 

 GeselL, 17 {1902), No. 46, pp. 273-278). — Experiments with leguminous plants — 

 lupines, serradella, etc. — on different kinds of soil extending over a number of years 

 are briefly reported. 



Directions for making local fertilizer experiments, K. Hansen ( Vejledning 

 vedlklfarehea af lobile fiodiiuuj.ifursog. CopenlKKjen: O. C. C)hen& Co., 1902, pp. 35). — 

 Brief directions are given for the use of farmers, with ])lank forms for keeping 

 records. 



The use of plaster in agriculture, L. Grande.vu {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 4 

 {1902), No. 52, p. AV.J).^ Analyses of 5 samples of gypsum are reported and attention 

 is called to the danger of adulteration. 



