126 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



aiitied analyses of fertilizers for general purposes and special crops sold in 

 various States. 



It is stated that notwithstanding the work of the experiment stations on 

 fertilizers " we still have little exact knowledge of the kind of material adapted 

 to different soils or crops or the proportions in which the several ingredients 

 should be combined. . . . There is no rational system of fertilization in general 

 use in this country, and in this respect the United States appears to be far 

 behind some of the European countries." 



Referring to the fact that the experiment stations are now giving relatively 

 less attention than formerly to plat experiments with fertilizers, it is stated 

 that " there is yet so much to be learned of the action of fertilizers to establish 

 a rational system that it is very desirable that investigations of this important 

 sub.iect shall be more vigorously pushed in the future, both along the line of 

 field plat tests and along such other lines as may promise valuable results 

 bearing on the theory and practical use of commercial fertilizers." 



The general features of the methods of inspection commonly in use are de- 

 scribeti and their efficiency discussed, emphasis being laid upon the fact that it 

 is impossible by these methods to determine the exact nature of the materials 

 used in the manufacture of fertilizers. It is stated that " the only method by 

 which such information could be reliably placed before the purchasers would 

 be a factory inspection in which the kind and amount of material used in the 

 mixture would be certified on the package and vouched for by the impartial 

 inspector." 



The tendency to multiply meaningless special brands of fertilizers is re- 

 ferred to. 



Commercial fertilizers and fertilizer inspection, M. Whitney (Nat. Conserv. 

 Com. Rpt., 1909, vol. 3, pp. lOS-lZ/S). — The conclusions reached in this study of 

 present systems of fertilizer inspection ni the United States are substantially 

 noted above. 



New fertilizing materials, R. Vallier (Rev. Gen. Chim., 13 {1910), No. 1, 

 pp. 1-11; Amer. Fert., 32 (1910), No. 7, pp. 7-9; abs. in Chem. Ztg., SJf (1910), 

 No. 2-'i. Rcpert., p. 98). — This is a summary of investigations relating to calcium 

 nitrate, calcium cyanamid, manganese fertilizers, stimulants and toxic sub- 

 stances, and bacterial fertilizers. The value and possibilities of the new 

 fertilizers are briefly discussed. 



Pot experiments with new nitrogenous fertilizers, H. G. Soderbaum (Meddel. 

 Cetitralaiist. Fiirsoksv. Jordbniksomradct, No. 2o, pp. 18, fig. 1). — This report 

 summarizes the results of pot experiments begun in 1903 to test the action of 

 calcium cyanamid from different sources on wheal and rye, of calcium nitrate 

 on these cereals and on oats, the influence of mixing oily substances with cal- 

 cium cyanamid on its value as a fertilizer, and the fertilizing effect of dicyandia- 

 mid and dicyandiamidin. 



The experiments were made in glazed pots containing 26 kg. f.57.3 lbs.) of 

 sandy soil poor in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. The calcium cyanamid and 

 nitrate were compared with sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate. Check 

 experiments were also made with albumin as a source of nitrogen in order to 

 see whether the conditions for ammouization and nitrification of organic nitro- 

 gen were favorable in the pots. The nitrogenous compounds were used at rates 

 furnishing 0.5 and 0.75 gm. of nitrogen per pot, in connection with the necessary 

 amounts of potash and phosphoiic a.cid for maximum crops. 



Wheat and rye were found to be much more sensitive to calcium cyanamid 

 than oats. An application of 0.75 gm. of nitrogen per pot in the form of cyana- 

 mid showed not the slightest injury in case, of oats, but injured wheat and rye 

 to a marked extent even when applied a week before seeding. The injurious 



