SOILS FEETILIZERS. 719 



Experiments on the availability of nitrogen in peat, peat moss, and ele- 

 phant dung as compared with certain other manures, H. E. Annett (Agr. 

 Jour. India, 5 (1910), No. 3, pp. 255-261). — Samples of peat containing 0.59 per 

 cent of nitrogen, peat moss containing 0.G9 per cent nitrogen, and elephant dung 

 containing 1.09 per cent nitrogen were tested In comparison with cattle manure 

 and castor-oil cake In pot experiments with corn on alluvial soil. As measured 

 by the total crop and yield of grain the oil cake gave by far the best results. 

 " From the yields of dry matter and from the percentage of nitrogen recovered, 

 peat moss, peat, elephant dung, and cattle manure appear to be about equally 

 valuable as manures, though from the appearance of the growing plants peat and 

 peat moss did not seem to be such good manures as cattle dung." 



Potassium silicate (ground phonolite) as a potash fertilizer, E. Wein (Das 

 Kalisilikat aJs Kali-Diiiigcniittel. Frcisiiig, 1909, pp. 90). — This pamphlet de- 

 scribes the potassium silicate used, and reports a large series of comparative 

 tests of the silicate and other potash fertilizers on a variety of crops from 1905 

 to 1908. 



The silicate tested in these experiments was finely ground phonolite contain- 

 ing 9.5 per cent potash, 8.1 per cent soda, 1.2 per cent lime, 24 per cent alumina, 

 50.2 per cent silicic acid, and 0.1 per cent phosphoric acid. The potash was 

 present largely in the form of silicate insoluble In water and from J to i soluble 

 in hydrochloric acid. 



The author concludes from the results of these experiments that the ground 

 phonolite may be used with advantage, particularly In the following cases: For 

 potatoes and garden crops which are injured by fertilizers containing chlorin ; 

 on the better quality of heavy soils in alternation with potash salts; on moor 

 soils and very light sandy soils in bad physical condition and on soils deficient 

 in lime ; for the creating of a potash reserve in soils poor in this constituent ; 

 for the preparation of garden soils and soils for pot experiments; and as a sub- 

 soil preparation for fruit plantations. 



A new fertilizer — Palmaer phosphate, L. Ghandeau (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. 

 sen, 19 (1910), No. 26, pp. 811, 8i2).— The method of preparation and the com- 

 position and fertilizing value of this phosphate are discussed. The phosphate 

 contains 36 to 38 per cent of phosphoric acid, of which 95 per cent is citrate- 

 soluble. 



The Palmaer method of preparing phosphatic fertilizers from low-grade 

 phosphates, Ebbinghaus (Chem. Ztg., 34 (1910), No. 66, p. 586; abs. in Jour. 

 t<oc. Chem. Indus., 29 (1910), No. 12, p. 77.)). — In this process apatite and phos- 

 phorite are converted into dicalcium phosphate by solution in chloric or per- 

 chloric acid generated electrolytlcally from the sodium salts, the salts being 

 regenerated after the conversion of the phosphates, thus making a continuous 

 process. The method is applicable to phosphates not suited to the manufacture 

 of superphosphate by ordinary methods. 



Palmaer phosphate, the latest commercial fertilizer, G. Fingerling (Wiirt- 

 temh. WchnbJ. Lundir.. 1910, No. 29, pp. .'f73, //7//).— The fertilizing value of this; 

 dicalcium i>hosphate prepared by the process referred to above is briefly dis- 

 cussed. On the basis of experiments by Soderbaum it is stated that this phos- 

 phate is fully as effective as superphosphate and more effective than Thomas 

 slag. It is further stated that the price is such that it can be profitably employed 

 by farmers. 



Fertilizer experiments on moor soils with Palmaer phosphate, II. von 

 Feilitzen (Jour. Landto., 58 (1910), No. 1, pp. 33-Ji3, pis. 5; Deut. Lomhc. 

 Presse, 37 (1910), Nos. J,2, p. 1,60, figs. 2; J/S, pp. J,75, J,76, figs. 2; abs. in Chem. 

 Zentbl., 1910, II, No. 6, p. liO.',; Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 98 (1910), No. 572, 

 II, p. 538). — In pot experiments with potatoes, cabbage, and lupines, aud fields 



