SOILS — FERTILIZERS. 821 



sist almost wholly of carbonate of linio. To obtain tlie best results It Is con- 

 sidered advisable to crush or grind the mussels and mix them with the soil. 



Soot as manure {Jour. Bd. Afjr. [Lamlon], 21 (1915), No. 11, pp. 10.',S-10/,6; 

 abs. in Mark Lane Express, 113 {liUS), No. 4353, p. 261; Jour. Soc. Clirm. Indus., 

 34 {1915), No. 7, p. 369; Chem. Abs., 9 {1915), No. 12, pp. 1651, 1652).— The com- 

 position, fertilizing value, and use of soot on different crops are brletly dis- 

 cussed. 



It is shown that soot is very variable in weight and composition. Domestic 

 soot is usually the richest and may contain from 3 to G per cent of nitrogen. 

 The lighter the soot the higher the percentage of nitrogen. The weight per 

 bushel varies from 9 to 33 lbs., and a good soot should not weigh more than 

 28 lbs. per bushel. The average soot from dwelling houses was found to con- 

 tain about 1 lb. of nitrogen per bushel. Soot is especially reconuuended for 

 the top-dressing of wheat and other grain in early spring. It is usually applied 

 at the rate of about 20 bu. per acre. It is most easily handled and gives the 

 best results if mixed with loam and superphosphate and potash salts before 

 application. 



Analysis of the flue dust from iron works is reported showing phosphoric 

 acid 0.96 per cent, potash 5.92, and lime 7.28. It is stated that there are 

 large quantities of this material which might be profitably used as a fertilizer. 



Analyses of fertilizers — fall season, 1914, B. W. Kilooke et al. {Bui. N. C. 

 Dept. A(jr., 36 {1915), No. 4, pp. 92). — Actual and guarantied analyses of 264 

 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials offered for sale in North Caro- 

 lina during 1914 are reported v/hich show that their composition is, as in 

 previous years, in general about as guarantied. Brands of fertilizers regis- 

 tered for the season 1914-15 are also reported with their guaranties. 



Commercial fertilizers, W. B. Cady {Porto Rico Bd. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 

 13 {1915), pp. 15; Spanish Ed., pp. 13). — This bulletin contains actual and 

 guarantied analyses of 91 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials for 

 sale in Porto Rico in 1914 and of 13 samples of guano and 3 samples of wood 

 ashes. . Of the fertilizers analyzed 23 were found to be deficient in one or 

 more constituents. The phosphoric acid content was equal to the guaranty in 

 all but 4 samples and in many samples exceeded the guaranty. The guanos 

 analyzed contained sufficient fertilizer material (0.3 to 8.40 per cent of nitrogen, 

 2.54 to 37.18 per cent of phosphoric acid, and from none to 3.7 per cent of 

 potash) to be considered worth exploiting. 



A short note on the purchasing of fertilizers and the text of the law regu- 

 lating the registration and inspection of fertilizers and fertilizing materials are 

 also given. 



Analysis of . fertilizers by the Virginia Department of Agriculture for 

 1915 {Dept. Agr. and Immigr. Va. Bid. 100 {1915), pp. i3-25).— Actual and 

 guarantied analyses and valuations of 213 samples of commercial fertilizers 

 and fertilizing materials offered for sale in Virginia in 1915 are reported. 

 According to the actual analyses, of the total number of samples examined, 

 about 8 fell below the guaranty in composition. 



[Fertilizer analyses], H. J. Vipond {Union So. Africa Dept. Agr. Rpt. 

 1913-14, pp. 2S&-233).— Analyses of bat guano, commercial fertilizers received 

 from manufacturers and farmers, kraal manure, and limes and limestones are 

 reported. The quality from the agricultural standpoint of limestones available 

 in Transvaal is discussed. 



Statistics of the commercial fertilizer industry in Austria-Hungary, F. W. 

 Dajfekt and R. Miklauz {Ztsclir. Landw. Versuchsw. Osterr., 18 {1915), No. 

 1-2, pp. i-i^).— Statistical data on the production, sale, use, exports, and 

 13522°— No. 9—15 3 



