1064 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The bulletin gives definitions of some of the more important bacteriological terms 

 used as well as a brief review of literature relating to the fixation of free nitrogen by 

 soils and leguminous plants, and briefly discusses the practical value of an applica- 

 tion of the information on this subject in the inoculation of soils. 



Lost fertility: The production and loss of nitrates in the soil, R. Warjng- 

 ton (Trans. Highland and Agr. Soc. Scotland, 5. ser., 17 (1905), pp. 148-181).— " The 

 object of the present paper is to bring together and discuss some of the results of the 

 Rothamsted investigations as to the qualities of nitrates which pass, under various 

 circumstances, into our agricultural subsoils or fail in other ways to contribute to the 

 fertility of the land. The investigations in question have been published at various 

 times during the last 20 years.' The most recent publication occurred in the lectures 

 delivered by Dr. Bernard Dyer in America in 1900, under the provisions of the 

 Lawes' Agricultural Trust, and published by the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture in 1902 [E. S. R., 13, p. 927]." 



FERTILIZERS. 



Methods of distributing- fertilizers (Jour. Soc. Agr. Suisse Romande, 45 (1904), 

 Nos. 9, pp. 179-196; 10, pp. 250-254). — Comparative trials conducted by Berthault 

 and Bretigniere in different parts of Switzerland of applying fertilizers in the hill, in 

 rows, or broadcast are summarized. The results favor application in the hill when 

 the land is poor and the amounts of fertilizers used are small. 



The quest of nitrogen, L. H. Bailey (Country Calendar, 1 (1905), No. 1, pp. 27, 

 28, 66, 68). — This article briefly discusses the importance of nitrogen as a plant food, 

 reviews investigations which have been made with reference to its functions and 

 sources of supply, and describes methods and possible benefits of soil inoculation. 



The production and waste of bones, E. Kruger (Jour. Landw., 53 (1905), No. 1, 

 pp. 77-85).— Statistics are given of the production, value, and utilization of bones 

 derived from various sources in Germany. The author estimates a total annual pro- 

 duction in Germany of 414,310 tons, and an annual waste of 299,835 tons, worth 

 about $6,250,000. 



On the influence of various ratios of phosphoric acid to nitrogen on the 

 growth of barley, R. Bahadur (Bui. Col. Agr. Tokyo Imp. Univ., 6 (1905), No. 4, 

 pp. 421-428, )>l. 1). — The author reviews the literature of investigations with refer- 

 ence to the proper ratio between phosphoric acid and nitrogen in a fertilizer for 

 different crops, and reports pot experiments with barley, using varying proportions 

 of these constituents. 



It was found that although analysis of the barley grain indicated a ratio of 3 parts 

 of nitrogen to 1 of phosphoric acid, a manure containing these constituents in this 

 ratio did not produce the best results, indicating that physiological requirements of 

 plants are not always identical with the fertilizer requirements. The experiments 

 showed that the ratio of 1 part of phosphoric acid to 3 of nitrogen in the manure was 

 not so favorable as the ratio 1 : 2. 



On the action of the phosphoric acid in agricultural phosphate, O. Bottcher 

 (Deut. Landw. Presse, 32 (1905), No. 20, p. 169).— A critical review of Bachmann's 

 experiments with the so-called agricultural phosphate (E. S. R., 16, p. 556). 



Fertilizer experiments with low percentage and high percentage Thomas 

 slag (Deut. Landw. Presse, 32 (1905), No. 26, p. 232, figs. 2).— Comparative tests of 8 

 per cent and 16 per cent Thomas slag on oats are reported, the results being decidedly 

 in favor of the high-grade slag. 



On the action of heavy applications of magnesia in the form of sulphate, 

 T. Nakamura (Landw. Jahrb., 34 (1905), No. 1, pp. 141-143, pi. i).— Pot experi- 

 ments are reported with barley, on a soil naturally containing 17 times as much lime 

 as magnesia soluble in strong hydrochloric acid, to which was added amounts ot 



