26 EXPEEIMEKT STATION EECOED. 



supply derived from Chilean nitrate. A brief account is also given of progress 

 in the utilization of seaweed in the United States, particularly of the Pacific 

 coast kelps. 



The new potash deposits in Spain (Als. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. 

 Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 {19U), No. 11, pp. 1423, 1424; 6 (1915), 

 No. 1, pp. 53-55). — Various reports and articles on this subject are reviewed 

 showing (1) the Government's plan of regulating the exploitation of the de- 

 posits, (2) the acquisition of a concession by an American company, (3) the 

 views of Sehmidt and others of the German Geological Society on the nature 

 and value of the Spanish deposits, and (4) the prospect of the Spanish potash 

 salts appearing in commerce. 



It is stated that "the deposits of potash salts are found in the Tertiary 

 strata of the Ebro basin, i. e., in the same region as the large mass of rock 

 salt at Cardona, known since antiquity. The discovery was made by a small 

 contractor who came across layers of carnallite and sylvin whilst boring in the 

 neighborhood of Cardona. Prospecting made up to the present shows that 

 there is a deposit 260 ft. in thickness, containing 70 ft. of beds of carnallite 

 with 20 per cent potassium chlorid, and 33 ft. of sylvin with 95 per cent potas- 

 sium chlorid. Later explorations will establish the extent of these deposits. 

 In origin they are analogous to those of Alsace, i. e., they are not primary 

 formations resulting from the evaporation of sea water but secondary forma- 

 tions derived from more ancient saline deposits, probably from Triassic saline 

 deposits of the Pyrenees and the coast ranges of Catalonia." The opinion of a 

 French technical expert is cited to the effect that these deposits compare in 

 richness and quality with the best German deposits and have the advantage of 

 being more easily accessible. 



Potash deposits in Catalonia (Zentbl. Kunstdiinger Indus., 19 (1914), No. 

 16, pp. 338, 339; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome'], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and 

 Plant Diseases, 5 (1914), No. 11, pp. 1423, 1424). — This Is a brief discussion, by 

 K. Schmidt and others, of the German Geological Society, of these deposits as 

 noted above. 



Lime in agriculture, F. T. Shutt (Canada Expt. Farms Bui. 80 (1914), PP. 

 16). — ^^This is a popular discussion of the nature of lime and limestone, agricul- 

 tural functions of lime and its compounds, comparative values and methods of 

 application of lime compounds, and the use and misuse of lime. 



Ground limestone for acid soils, J. F. Bakkeb and R. C. Collison (Neio 

 York State Sta. Bui. 40O (1915), pp. 145-163, pi. 1).—The first section of this 

 bulletin discusses briefly the chemical composition of limestones, with a table 

 showing the carbonate content and calcium carbonate equivalent of the ground 

 limestones produced in the various quarries of Kew York and of the principal 

 ones brought in from outside. Following sections discuss the practical use of 

 ground limestone on acid soils and give compiled data showing the returns 

 from the use of limestone on various crops and soils. 



It is stated that three-fourths or more of the farm lands of New York would 

 be greatly benefited by a liberal application of lime in some form. Limestone 

 is considered likely to produce better results than burned lime and is safer 

 and more convenient to apply. The relation of magnesium in limestone to its 

 practical use is pointed out. 



Theoretical considerations and experiments in the use of ground limestone 

 are reviewed to show that fineness greater than is necessary to allow all the 

 niiitorial to pass through a 10-mesh sieve is not required for satisfactory use. 



Gypsum, R. W. Stone (U. 8. Oeol. Survey, Mineral Resources of the United 

 States Calendar Year 1913, pt. 2, pp. 355-372) .—This is a review for 1913 of 

 data relating to the sources, production, and use of gj-psum. 



