FERTILIZERS. 331 



nitrogen being found in the case of complete mineral fertilizer containing sulphate 

 of auuuonia than in case of that containing nitrate of soda. An examination with lit- 

 mus paper showed that the limed soil was strongly alkaline, that receiving mineral 

 fertilizer containing nitrate of soda slightly acid, and that receiving mineral fertilizer 

 containing suli>liate of ammonia strongly acid. The unmanured soil contained tliree- 

 fourths of its organic matter in active form, i. e., soluble in 4 per cent ammonia 

 water at'cording to the Official-Cirandeau method. Tlie largest amount of active 

 hunuis was found in the plat receiving mineral fertilizer containing sulphate of 

 ammonia. The plat receiving manure and lime contained both absolutely and rela- 

 tively less active humus than the unmanured plat. The supply of nitrogen wa.s 

 greatest in the plat receiving manure and lime. The use of lime alone apparently 

 "rapidly diminishes humus of all kinds and results in a marked loss of nitrogen." 



Experiments on the relative fertilizing value of ammonia salts, P. Wacjxek 

 {Mitt. Di'i't. Landir. GeselL, 16 {1901), Xos. 10, pp. .5.5, .56; 11, pp. .57-60).— Plat 

 experiments are reported in which as a result of 36 tests with rye, oats, and barley 

 100 kg. of nitrate of soda produced 421 kg. of grain and 617 kg. of straw, while a cor- 

 i^sponding amount of ammonium sulphate produced 280 kg. of grain and 402 kg. of 

 straw. If the effect of the nitrate be taken as 100 that of the sulphate would be 67 

 in case of tlie grain and 65 in case of straw. In 9 tests with fodder beets, sugar 

 beets, and potatoes 100 kg. of nitrate produced 34.3 of roots while the sulphate pro- 

 duced 16.6, the relative effect being 100 : 48. The difference in effect was much more 

 marked in case of root crops than in case of grains. The yield was decidedly 

 increased by divided applications in case of the root crops, but was not materially 

 affected in case of the grains. The seasons of 1899 and 1900, during which the 

 experiments were made, were not favorable to rapid nitrification and so to the quick 

 action of ammonium sulphate. The soils used in the experiments were variable in 

 physical character but no differences due to this fact were apparent. As regards the 

 influence of the ])roportion of lime in the l^oil the results are inconclusive. 



Investigations on the fertilizing action of the phosphoric acid of bone meal, 

 O. Kellner and O. Bottcher {Dmt. Landw. Presse, 38 {1901), Nos. 23, pp. 194, 195, 

 figs. 6; 24, p. 204) • — This is a continuation of experiments previously reported 

 (E. S. R., 12, p. 323). Mustard was grown in pots containing 3.5 kg. of fine sandy 

 loam containing in dry matter 22.4 per cent of humus and 14.3 per cent of lime. 

 Superphosphate, Thomas slag, and steamed bone meal were used as in previous 

 experiments, except that to one series of pots 15 gm. and to another series 30 gm. 

 each of calcium carbonate were applied. The relative effect of the different 

 methods of fertilizing was avS follows: 



Relative effect of different phosphates, with and u'ithout lime, on mustard. 



Without With 15 I With 30 

 lime. gm. lime. gm. lime. 



Superphosphate . 



Thomas slag 



Bone meal 



100 

 100 

 100 



77.7 75.5 



81.7 81.5 



72.6 1 50.0 



These figures show a decided decrease in yield when lime was applied. It is 

 claimed that this effect of liming is not confined to the phosphoric acid of the fer- 

 tilizers applied, but extends to that of the soil. These conclusions are in direct con- 

 tradiction to those of Dafert and Reitmair (E. S. R., 12, p. 839), which, it is claimed, 

 are based on unreliable data. 



The most profitable amount of fertilizer to apply, M. Fiscueu {Fiihliiufs 

 Landv. Zt;/., .50 {1901), JSo.s. 7, jij). 264-270; 8, pp. 29n-.10i). — Plat experiments with 

 rye and oats to which different fertilizers were apjilied in various ways and amounts 

 are reported. The experiments were mainly a comparison of sulphate of ammonia 



