SOILS FERTILIZERS. 325 



Phonolite as a potash fertilizer in Sweden, S. Rhodin (Deut. Landw. 

 Pressc, 37 {ID 10), No. 27, p. 302).— The phonolite had little or no effect on 

 meadows, potatoes, and sugar beets. 



Determination of the physiological action of lime in vineyard soils, P. 

 Tkeitz {Compt. Rend. Conf, Intcrnat. Agrogeol. [Budapest], 1 (1909), pp. 273- 

 287). — This article deals with the relative value of different forms of lime 

 in the soil, and brings out the fact that the physiological action is not determined 

 by the quantity of lime in the soil as a whole, but depends upon the character 

 of the fine earth. 



Lime for Virginia farms, W. B. Ellett {Virginia 8ta. Bui. 187, pp. 3-Jf7, 

 figs. 23). — This bulletin discusses the general principles of liming, methods 

 which may be profitably employed under A'irgiuia conditions, methods of con- 

 structing limekilns and burning lime, machinery for crushing limestone and 

 applying lime, available sources of supply, and related matters. 



It is stated that " liming should be practiced only in connection with a rota- 

 tion of crops and system of farming that returns humus to the land," and its 

 most general use is to promote the growth of leguminous plants. 



"The most striking results from liming Virginia soils, in all sections of the 

 State, will usually be secured when preparing the land for grasses and clovers. 

 . . . Generally speaking, the sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, or Tidewater, are 

 benefited more by liming than any other soils of the State. . . . The heavy red 

 clay soils of the Piedmont are usually somewhat deficient in lime and respond 

 profitably to its application. In the valley and southwest, most of the soils are 

 of limestone origin and contain sufficient lime, but the surface layer of some of 

 these soils has been depleted of lime, due to leaching and to the method of 

 farming, and liming will often give satisfactoi'y results. In all sections of the 

 State there are areas of greater or less extent that show little or no benefit from 

 liming. Whether to use lime or not, therefore, must always be a local problem, 

 and each farmer must determine it for himself." 



Fine-ground limestone or shells are considered " fully as valuable as burnt 

 lime when used at the rate of 100 lbs. of finely ground limestone or shells, as 

 equal to 56 lbs. of fresh burnt lime," the deciding factor being the relative first 

 cost. 



The text of a state law enacted in 1910 to regulate the sale and purity of 

 agricultural lime is appended. 



[Jelly fish as a fertilizer], P. Carmody {Ann. Rpt. Dcpt. Agr. Trinidad and 

 Tobago, 1908-9, p. JfO). — ^An analysis of jelly fish is reported as follows: Water 

 9S.950 per cent, organic matter 1.004 per cent, ash 0.04G per cent. The organic 

 matter contained 0.154 per cent of nitrogen and the ash contained a trace of 

 jjotash jind 0.000 per cent of phosphoric acid. The dry matter consisted prin- 

 ci])ally of protein. 



Report of the commission of investigation on the disposal and use of mud 

 from the harbor of Delfzijl, F. B. Lohnis et al. ( Verslag. en Meded. Dir. 

 Landb., Depi. Landb., Nijr. en Handel, 1910, No. 1, pp. 7-67, pis. 2, figs. 3).— 

 The report includes a discussion of the use of sea mud in the Netherlands and 

 in East Friesland; its less extensive use in the Netherlands is ascribed to lack of 

 facilities for storing and selling the dried product. The commission is of the 

 opinion that the mud dredged from the harbor of Delfzijl may be profitably 

 used for agricultural puriioses to take the i)lace of muck, which is becoming less 

 available. 



Fertilizers, J. Hendrick {Trans. Highland and Agr. Sac. Scot., 5. ser., 22 

 {1910), pp. 118-122). — Analyses of miscellaneous materials are reported and 

 commented upon, these including bone manures, dissolved bones, lawn-sand 

 manure, lime, gas lime, sewage sludge, and wool factory waste. 



