FERTILIZERS. 131) 



than after the crop is partially grown, and indicate that a top-dressing of this sub- 

 stance pays well as a rule on wheat which for any cause (either poor land or from 

 late seeding) is backward in the spring, although its use is of doubtful benefit on land 

 which is well supplied with plant food. Nitrate of soda gave uniformly and decid- 

 edly better results than sulphate of ammonia, both with and without lime. Nitrate 

 of potash gave better results than nitrate of soda combined with a potash salt (sul- 

 phate), but the advantage was not great enough "to warrant the difference in cost 

 which usually prevails." The organic sources of nitrogen were not as active as nitrate 

 i if si »da. ( )f the three principal forms tested blood stood first as regards effectiveness, 

 leather second, and hair last. The results seem to show decided advantage from 

 treating leather with acid, but little or no advantage from so treating hair. Fish gave 

 better results than bone tankage and stable manure than cotton-seed meal. 



Brief accounts are given of miscellaneous experiments with vegetables 'and in ton- 

 dressing grass land and lawns. As a result of 2 years' experiments the conclusion is 

 reached "that either bone or fish tankage is the most desirable material for top- 

 dressing lawns, and for the city or town lawn is much easier to get, cheaper, and 

 more agreeable to use than stable manure." 



Experiments on supplying the nitrogen requirements of plants from the 

 atmosphere, Steglich (Brr. Tilt. Landw. Alt., K. Vers. Slut. Pflanzenkult., Dresden, 

 1903, pp. .', 3). — This is a brief report of progress in experiments begun in 1900 to 

 determine whether under systems of fallow or green manuring it is possible to derive 

 sufficient nitrogen from the air to maintain normal yields. The principal data 

 obtained in experiments on loam and sandy soils in vegetation pots are tabulated, 

 but no conclusions are drawn. 



On the preservation of liquid manure, J. Sebeliex and E. Forfang (Norsk 

 Landmandsblad, 23 (1904), No. 11, pp. 135, 136). — In laboratory trials with peat litter, 

 or peat litter and sulphuric acid, as preservatives of liquid manure, 30 gm. of peat or 

 5 cc. of sulphuric acid per 200 cc. of liquid manure prevented any loss of nitrogen 

 during a period of l\ months, while a loss of 54 per cent occurred when no preserva- 

 tives had been added. In another series of trials 25 gm. of peat litter per 300 cc. 

 reduced the loss of nitrogen during 125 days from nearly 60 per cent to 5 per cent, 

 there being practically no loss when peat was added in the proportion of 25 gm. to 

 100 cc. or to 200 cc. of liquid manure. — f. w. woll. 



On the fineness of slaked lime, H. vox Feilitzen (Svenska Mosskulturfor. Tidshr., 

 17 (1903), No. 5, pp. 320-322).— Trials conducted at Flahult experiment station 

 showed that water-slaking is superior to self-slaking in open air, although even the 

 latter method was found to give lime of considerable fineness, viz, from. 52 to 75 per 

 cent of "fine-meal" (finer than 0.2 mm.). — f. w. woll. 



Pot experiments with superphosphate, Thomas slag, bone meal, and 

 phosphorite, A. Rixdell (Landtbr. Styr. Meddel, 1903, No. 44, pp. 19-28). — The 

 results obtained by the author indicate that superphosphate has a higher value as a 

 phosphoric-acid fertilizer than either Thomas phosphate or bone meal, and that the 

 latter fertilizers have a similar effect; that bone meal, therefore, is a more valuable 

 fertilizer in comparison with Thomas phosphate than is indicated by the results of 

 German experiments. — f. w. woll. 



Cooperative field experiments with Thomas slag and kainit, A. Rindell 

 i Landtbr. Sfcyr. Meddel., 1903, No. 44, pp- 1-19). — This is a compilation of the results 

 of experiments conducted by the author at different Finnish farms. Summary state- 

 ments of the data obtained are given, with a brief discussion of the results. — f. w. 

 woll. 



Experiments with commercial fertilizers, E. F. Ladd (North Dakota Sta. Rpt. 

 1903, pp. 20-23). — The results of cooperative experiments with fertilizers on wdieat 

 in different parts of the State are briefly reported. In these experiments there was 



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