24 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



barley, oats, potatoes, beets, and grass are reported, showing in general profit- 

 able retiirns from the use of potash in connection with other fertilizers. 



Ground phonolite as a potash fertilizer, S. Rhodin {K. Landtbr. Akad. 

 Jdandl. och Tidslcr., ^9 {1910). A^o. 1, pp. 15-80). — Experiments conducted on 5 

 Swedish farms with fine-ground phonolite ("potassium silicate") for potatoes 

 and mangels, as well as for top-dressing grass laud, failed to show that this 

 material has any value as a potash fertilizer, when applied with sodium 

 nitrate and superphosphate at the rate of 900 or 1,500 kilos per hectare (SOO 

 or 1,335 lbs. per acre). 



Pertilizer experiments with phonolite meal, H. von Feilitzen {Mitt. Dent. 

 Landw. GeselL, 25 {1910), A'o. 10, pp. 1^5, 14G). — Pot experiments comparing 

 phonolite meal, containing 7.35 per cent of potash, and 88 per cent potash 

 salt on potatoes, turnips, and peas gi-own on low moor soil as well as field experi- 

 ments with barley grown on raw high moor soil are reported, showing a very 

 low elficiency for the phonolite meal as compared with the potash salt. 



A criticism of Wein's experiments with ground phonolite, H. Neubaueu 

 {Dcitt. Landtc. Prcssc. 36 {190'J), 'So. 83, pp. 885, 886). — The author questions 

 the accuracy of Wein's conclusions (E. S. R., 22. p. 24) as to the availability 

 of the silicate of potash in ground phonolite. 



Fertilizer experiments with silicate of potash, E. Wein {Dcut. Landw. 

 Presse, 37 {1910), Nos. 2, pp. 13, U; 3, pp. 26, 27).— In this article the author 

 replies at considerable length to criticisms of his investigations by Hiltuer and 

 others (E. S. R., 22, p. 324). and Neubauer (see above). 



Pot experiments with silicate of potash, E. Wein {Dcut. Landw. Presse, 

 37 (1910}, Xo. 13, PI). I'lo, l-'iG). — Experiments with Italian rye grass on sandy 

 and moor soils are reported. In confirmation of the results of previous experi- 

 ments (noted above) the author found that the effectiveness of the potash 

 silicate varies greatly with the conditions under which it is used and is greatest 

 when thorough aeration of the soil is provided for. 



New processes for luaking superphosphates, V. Cambon {Engrais, 25 {1910), 

 No. 9, pp. 2'i3-2't5). — Various new forms of apparatus and machinery and their 

 methods of operation are described. 



Tests of different kinds of phosphatic fertilizers, J. Schroeder and H. Dam- 

 MAXN {Rer. Inst. Agron. Montccidco, IDO'.K No. 5. pp. 239-2 ',2) .—The tests 

 were carried on at the experimental fields at Sayago, near Montevideo. 



The materials experimented with and their content in phosphoric acid were : 

 Bone meal 30, Thomas slag 20, and superphosphate 12 per cent. The crop was 

 fodder beets. The fertilizers were applied in quantity sufficient to furnish 

 about 90 lbs. of phosphoric acid per acre. The results were practically identical 

 for all the forms of fertilizer used and showed an increase of over 200 per cent 

 in the amount of roots and of over 150 per cent in the dry matter as compared 

 with the yield of the plat receiving no phosphatic fertilizer. 



The authors think that the large increase was due to (1) the great lack of 

 phosphoric acid in the soil, and (2) the rapid decomposition of phosphatic fer- 

 tilizers in that climate due to atmospheric agencies. The authors point out 

 that since the different phosphatic fertilizers give practically identical returns 

 the prices should vary according to the phosphoric acid content. 



The behavior of superphosphate in the soil, 1. K. Greisenegger {Ztschr. 

 Landw. Versuchsw. Osterr., 13 {1910), No. 1, pp. l--'i7). — Two series of experi- 

 ments are reported. The first included a series of absorption tests with dif- 

 ferent types of soils to determine the rate and extent of fixation of water- 

 soluble phosphoric acid in the soils. The other cimsisted of a series of pot 

 experiments to determine the extent to which the phosphoric acid fixed in the 

 deeper layers of the soil can be assimilated by the roots of plants. 



