424 EXPERIMENT STATIOjST EECOED. 



above in which a practically inodorous sludge of high fertilizing value was ob- 

 tained by forcing air through sewage tanks. 



Analyses of guano, A. Hutin {Ann. Chim. Analyt., 19 (1914), No. 9-12, pp. 

 332, 333; ahs. in Chem. AJ)s., 9 {1915), No. 5, p. 684). — ^Analyses of six samples 

 of guanos recently collected on the Chincha Islands are reported. In these the 

 nitrogen varied from 2.98 to 9.3 per cent, the phosi^horic acid from 7.73 to 9.02, 

 and the potash from 2.47 to 4.08. 



Prohibition of collection of g'uano in the Ballestas Islands, Peru {Riqueza 

 Agr. [Lima, Peru], 4 {1914), No. 27, pp. 161-163; abs. in Intcrnat. Inst. Agr. 

 [Romel, Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 {1914), No. 12, pp. 1565, 

 1566). — In view of the increasing consumption of fertilizers in Peruvian agri- 

 culture and the insufficiency of the supply of guano available for this purpose, 

 the Peruvian Government issued a decree February 5, 1914, prohibiting the 

 exploitation of the guano deposits of the Ballestas Islands for three years, after 

 which period they are to be worked entirely for domestic consumption. 



The preparation of fertilizer from kelp, J. W. Turkentine {Amer. Pert., 

 42 {1915), No. 5, pp. 37-42).— This article deals briefly with the distribution, 

 amounts, composition, and fertilizer value of the Pacific coast kelps, and dis- 

 cusses the feasibility from an industrial standpoint of making a fertilizer by 

 drying and grinding the kelp. 



The results of the study of composition of the different kinds of kelp common 

 on the Pacific coast indicates that the potassium content of Nereocystis is 

 greater than that of Maci'ocystis, and that while the potassium content of the 

 northern kelp is higher than that of the southern there is no marked difference 

 in the iodin content of the two. Proximity to the mouth of a fresh water stream 

 had no appreciable effect upon the potash and nitrogen content of the kelp, 

 and there was no essential difference between the potash and nitrogen content 

 of fronds and stipes. The average of the analyses of wet kelp showed water 

 85 per cent, nitrogen 0.3, potash 2.5, and phosphoric acid 0.2. 



In the author's opinion kelp can, in the beginning at least, be most advan- 

 tageously prepared for use as a fertilizer by drying and grinding. Methods of 

 preparing such a fertilizer are described and data for the cost of the processes 

 are given. 



The utilization of air nitrogen for fertilizing purposes, A. Kkaisy (^ZtscJir. 

 Ver. Deut. Zuckerindus., No. 706 {1914), II, pp. 911-926, figs. ^),— The develop- 

 ment of the manufacture of nitrogen compounds from the air is briefly re- 

 viewed, and the principles upon which the leading processes for this purpose 

 are based are discussed. A list of factories in operation in 1913 with their 

 estimated output is given. 



The cyanamid process, F. S. Washburn {Anter. Pert., 42 {1915), No. 7, pp. 

 21-29). — The recent development and present status of this process are dis- 

 cussed. 



The Kalusz kainit, W. Kolski {Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsiv. Osterr., 17 {1914), 

 No. 12, pp. 892-901; abs. in Intemat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and 

 Plant Diseases, 6 {1915), No. S, pp. 390, 391). — Numerous analyses showing 

 potash, lime, magnesia, chlorin, and sulphuric acid in the kainit from the 

 Kalusz deposits in Galicia are reported. The potash averaged about 10 per 

 cent, the sulphuric acid 17.5, and the chlorin about 29. Many of the samples 

 contained small amounts of manganese. 



Does fertilizing with, kainit conserve water? Gerlach and Schikorra 

 {Mitt. Kaiser Wilhclins Inst. Landiv. Bromberg, 6 {1915), No. 5, pp. 368-381, 

 389-393). — Several series of experiments are reported which show that appli- 

 cations of as much as 1,0G9 lbs. per acre of kainit, which is more than is ordi- 

 narily applied in practice, exerted no observable effect on evaporation of water 



