654 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



autoclave, while another was sterilized by being passed through a ( !hamberland filter 

 and then mixed with manure which had hern sterilized in the usual way (i. e., by 

 hoi steam in the autoclave). En the fermentation which took place after inoculating 

 both portions with a pure culture of Bacillus pyoeyaneus the same amount of carbon 

 dioxid was liberated in both cases, while the urine which had passed the Chamber- 

 land filter liberated under like conditions 37 per cent more ammonia. This is 

 accounted for by a loss of ammonia in sterilization. 



The author describes some cases observed by him of extreme variation in the 

 growth and life activity of the micro-organisms in manure, the cause of which could 

 not be detected, e. g., one and the same organism vegetated splendidly in one case, 

 while in another on the same medium it refused entirely to ^row. 



In a third series of experiments, undertaken with the object of studying the influ- 

 ence of the sterilization of the manure on its subsequent decomposition, manure 

 extracts and pure cultures were used and the amounts of carbon dioxid anil ammo- 

 nia liberated in each case were determined. It was found that the oxidation 

 processes were the same in both unsterilized manure and in that which had been 

 sterilized and then inoculated. From the manure with which the extract was used 

 considerably more carbon dioxid was liberated than in case of the pure cultures. 



Three times as much ammonia was set free in the case <>f the unsterilized soil as in 

 the case of the soil which was first sterilized and then inoculated. This is partly 

 accounted for by the loss of ammonia in the sterilization, hut, according to the 

 author, a part is also played by some biological factors which have not as yet been 

 fully studied. — p. fireman. 



Lime as a preservative for barnyard manure, S. Hals (Norsk. Landmands- 

 blad, .'■! ( 1904), No. 33,j)j>. 892-395). — A review of the literature of the subject, from 

 which the general conclusion is drawn that the effect of lime maybe deleterious and 

 its use is therefore, according to our present knowledge, not to be recommended. — 

 f. w. WOLL. 



Liquid manure cisterns, R. Christiani ( Ugeskr. Landm., 49 (1904), No. 35, pp. 

 395-397). — Notes with illustrations on method of construction. 



Manures and how to mix them (Trinidad Bat. DepL, Bui. Misc. Inform., 1004, 

 No. '/.', !'■ 61, fig. 1). — A diagram is given showing what fertilizing materials may be 

 safely mixed and how long they may be mixed before applying to the land, and its 

 use explained. 



On the effectiveness of phosphoric acid of manure as compared with that 

 of "Wolters phosphate, superphosphate, and Thomas slag, W. Schneidewinu 

 and I). Meyer (Landw. Jahrb., 33 (1904), pp. 342-347; abs. in Chem. CentbL, 1904, 

 II, No. 10, p. 7SS). — In experiments with mustard and oats the phosphoric acid of 

 horse and cow manure compared favorably with that of superphosphate and corre- 

 sponded closely with its citrate solubility. 



Wolters phosphate, prepared by fusing raw phosphate with lime, sand, and glass, 

 compared favorably with superphosphate on mustard and oats, and was much more 

 effective than Thomas slag. Its after-effect was somewhat more pronounced than 

 that of superphosphate. More of the phosphoric acid of AVolters phosphate was 

 assimilated than in case of the Thomas slag, but less than in case of superphosphate. 

 The more soluble the phosphoric acid the greater the amount assimilated, but the 

 smaller the amount of organic matter produced per unit of phosphoric acid. 



Wolters phosphate, E. Wein (Mitt. Deut. Landw. Gesell, 19 (1904), No. 47, pp. 

 294-298). — Field experiments with this phosphate in comparison with superphosphate, 

 Thomas slag, and bone meal on mustard, potatoes, oats, and grass on loam, moor, 

 and calcareous soils are reported. The general conclusion drawn from these experi- 

 ments is that Wolters phosphate is fully equal in value to superphosphate and 



