718 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



The results emphasize " the fact that hen manure uumixed with absorbents 

 or chemicals suffers very rapid loss of nitrogen," and that this loss can be ef- 

 fectively prevented by " the free use of fine dry loam, or the admixture of such 

 materials as kainit, acid phosphate, muriate of potash or land plaster, or of a 

 combination of some of these." 



Urine-earth as a manure, D. Clouston (Agr. Jour. India, 5 (1910), No. 3, 

 pp. 262, 26i3). — Tests are reported which indicate that the urine of a bullock 

 conserved for a certain period by means of dry earth was equal in manurial 

 value to the dung of the same animal for a like period. 



The dry-earth system of preservation of urine used was as follows: "Dry 

 earth to a depth of G in. is spread in the stalls. The dung is removed daily 

 and stored in a pit. The urine-earth is removed from the stalls and stored in 

 the same pit after having lain about a month in the stalls ; fresh earth is put 

 in its place. By removing the dung daily the stalls are kept clean. Should 

 the earth get caked, the surface is scarified by means of a phowra (scraper) in 

 order to make it pervious to the liquid manure. By this method both the liquid 

 and solid excreta are saved." 



Recent investigations on the action and properties of lime nitrogen, A. 

 Sti:tzfr, F. Rkis and F. Soi.l {Fuhliug's Landtr. Ztg., 59 (1910), Xo. 12, pp. 

 Ifl3-fi20). — Investigations on the action of cyanamid and dicyandiamid on 

 micro-organisms, germinating seeds, and growing plants and animals, and the 

 changes which these substances undergo in the soil, are briefly reviewed. 



It is shown that cyanamid may be utilized by micro-organisms as a source 

 of nitrogen, but that dicj'andiamid can not be so used. The injurious effect of 

 these substances on germinating seeds and smaller animals was confirmed. 

 They were found, however, to be efficient fertilizers for the higher plants. The 

 fertilizing action of the lime nitrogen is ascribed mainly to the ammonia which 

 is produced in the soil, and the formation of ammonia should therefore be pro- 

 moted in every possible way. The transformation is thought to be due less to 

 micro-oi'ganisms than to the chemical action of certain soil constituents. 



The author holds that the fear that under the ordinary conditions of agricul- 

 tural practice any considerable amount of dicyandiamid will be formed from 

 the lime nitrogen is not well founded. 



Chemical and physiological experiments with cyanamid and derivatives, 

 F. Reis (Biochem. Ztschr., 25 (1910), No. 6, pp. J,60-J,93 ; abs. in Jour. 8oc. 

 Chem. Indus., 29 (1910), No. 12, pp. 77'/, 77.5). — This article describes methods 

 of determination of calcium cyanamid and its derivatives, dicyandiamid, di- 

 cyandiiimidine, and diguanid, and the behavior of these compounds under differ- 

 ent conditions, particularly under varying soil conditions. 



It was shown that calcium cyanamid poisons bacteria, molds, seedlings, and 

 growing plants if used as the exclusive source of nitrogen. It was also shown 

 to be poisonous to animals. Certain micro-organisms can use cyanamid and 

 the derivatives named above when in concentrations of less than one part per 

 thousand of water. When applied to well established plants these compounds 

 ai)pear to be of some value as a fertilizer in certain cases, but of little or no 

 value in other cases. Germination was retarded in all cases. Since cyanamid 

 hiis been shown in practice to be of decided fertilizing value it is evident that 

 it undergoes transformations in the soil which destroy its poisonous properties. 



The agricultural utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, Zeisei. (Wiener 

 Landic. Ztg., 60 (1910), Nos. 58, pp. 59.5-597; 59, pp. eOJ,, 605).— This article is a 

 resume of the contributions to the knowledge of the utilization of atmospheric 

 nitrogen for agricultural purposes. The composition and fertilizing effects of 

 commercial calcium cyanamid and calcium nitrate are reported. 



