1019] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 221 



germination was observed when it was accompanied by the application of 

 nutritive salts. 



A bibliography of 270 titles is appended. 



The utilization of niter cake in the manufacture of superphosphate, F. T. 

 Shutt and O. E. Wright (Agr. Ga-z. Canada, 5 (1918), No. 11, pp. 1040-1045; 

 abs. in Canad. Chern. Jour., 2 (1918), No. 8, p. 196; Chem. Abs., 12 (1918), No. 

 21, p. 2223). — Experiments are reported in which it was found that, "(1) em- 

 ploying finely ground Florida pebble phosphate (total PjO» 32.3 per cent), a 

 dry mix of one part niter cake to one part Florida pebble phosphate yielded 

 a superphosphate 15.77 per cent available phosphoric acid as determined by 

 1 per cent citric acid method, or 6.81 per cent by the A. O. A. C. methods. 

 The wet mix. 6 parts niter cake, 6 parts Florida pebble phosphate, arid 1 part 

 H 2 gave 16.09 and 9.26 per cent available phosphoric acid, respectively, by 

 the two methods of analysis. 



"(2) Canadian apatite (total P 2 O s 39.4 per cent) is less readily acted upon 

 by the niter cake than Florida pebble phosphate, the products of the several 

 mixes showing lower percentages of available phosphoric acid than the corre- 

 sponding mixes with the latter phosphate. The dry mix, one part niter cake 

 to one part Canadian apatite, gave a product containing 8.43 and 4.37 per 

 cent available phosphoric acid, respectively, by the 1 per cent citric acid method 

 and the A. O. A. C. methods. The wet-mix product from 6 parts niter cake, 

 6 parts Canadian apatite, and 1 part H 2 contained 9.9 and 7.02 per cent 

 available phosphoric acid, respectively, by the two methods of analysis em- 

 ployed. While in the case of the Florida pebble phosphate no very marked 

 increase in the percentage of available phosphoric acid resulted from mixing 

 the materials wet and allowing them to stand, the wet mixes using Canadian 

 apatite were decidedly richer than the corresponding dry mixes in this 

 constituent." 



Plants tolerating salt, E. O. Fenzi (Bui. R. Soc. Toscana Ort., 4- ser., S 

 (1918), No. 5-6, pp. 87-39; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Internat. Rev. 

 Sci. and Pract. Agr., 9 (1918), No. 9, pp. 1041, 1042). — From investigations in 

 Italy, North Africa, and elsewhere where alkali soils and brackish water occur, 

 the author classifies various plants, with reference to those which do well in 

 soils free from chlorids even if they are impregnated with water containing 

 more than 1.5 per cent of salt, those capable of growing and doing well in 

 soils containing not more than 5 per cent of chlorids, even if impregnated with 

 water containing not more than 3 per cent of chlorids, and those capable of 

 living and doing well in soil containing up to 5 per cent of chlorids, even if 

 Impregnated with water containing the same proportion of chlorids. 



Peat in 1917, C. C. Osbon (U. S. Geol. Survey, Min. Resources U. S., 1917, 

 pt. 2, pp. IY+257-283, pi. 1). — It is stated that the quantity of peat produced 

 and sold in the United States in 1917 exceeded that marketed in any preceding 

 year, and, with the exception of the manufacture of peat for use as fuel, all 

 branches of the industry shared in the general prosperity. 



The most striking development was the greater use made of peat, both as a 

 direct fertilizer and as a culture medium for nitrifying and other bacteria in 

 the manufacture of bacterial fertilizer. The quantity of raw peat marketed 

 was 97. 363 short tons in 1917 as compared with 52,506 tons in 1916. The 

 amount of peat fertilizer and fertilizer filler marketed in 1917 was 92,263 tons, 

 valued at !?6."">S,500, as compared with 4S.106 tons, valued at $336,004 in 1916. 

 The amount of peat used in 1917 in compounding stock feed by use as an ab- 

 sorbent for the uncrystalMzed residues of beet and cane sugar refineries was 



109642°— 19 3 



