218 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



which this is an outcrop is said to be more than 100 ft. thick and " consists of 

 layers of phosphate and blacls and brown shale with interstratified layers of 

 sandy limestone. In extent it is known to outcrop in a north-south direction for 

 more than 40 miles, and sections studied show it to have an area of more than 

 100 square miles. It has been reported as far south as Ogden Canyon, but no 

 detailed section has been measured in that locality." 



Samples containing as high as 68.59 per cent of tricalcium phosphate were 

 obtained from this outcrop. 



The production and fertilizer value of citric- soluble phosphoric acid and 

 potash, W. H. Waggaman (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 1J,3 (19U), pP- i2).— Previous 

 investigations bearing on this subject are reviewed and a method devised by 

 the author for obtaining both potash and phosphoric acid in forms soluble in 

 citric acid is described. This consists in mixing phosphate rock and feldspar, 

 adding small quantities of iron and manganese oxids to promote fluidity or 

 lower the melting point of the slag and heating the mixture to about 1,400° C. 

 for about 20 minutes. This was found to give a product soluble not only in 2 

 per cent citric acid, but also fairly soluble in water saturated with carbon 

 dioxid. 



" Pot tests with typical soils showed that the [material] increased the growth 

 of wheat plants, but the beneficial effect derived from such applications was 

 not, on the whole, as marked as it was when more soluble forms of phosphate 

 and potash were used. The indications are, however, that the slag product has 

 a distinct high fertilizer value." 



Progress in the potash industry in 1913, H. Hof (Chem. Ztg., 38 {1914), 

 No. lOJf-105, pp. IO45-IO47). — This is a brief review of literature appearing 

 during the year bearing upon the geology, mineralogy, and general chemistry 

 of potash deposits, and the technical chemistry, manufacturing methods and 

 appliances, and agricultural use of potash products. 



Ashes of hedge clippings and trimmings as a source of potash, E. J. 

 Russell (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 21 {1914), No. 8, pp. 694-691!).— It is shown 

 in this article that under favorable conditions hedge clippings and cleanings 

 will yield at the rate of about 20 lbs. of ash containing about 10 per cent of 

 potash for each 100 yards of hedge annually. It is also shown that the screen- 

 ings and other waste from threshing grain will give about 52 lbs. per aci*e of 

 ash containing 11.2 per cent of potash. 



Potassium salts and agriculture {Nature [London], 94 {1914), No. 2350, p. 

 287). — This is a brief note on the iwssible sources of potash for the British 

 farm aside from the German potash salts. The sources referred to include kelp 

 and hedge clippings (see above). The author expresses the opinion that "tak- 

 ing all circmustances into consideration, ... it does not appear that British 

 agriculture will suffer for two or three years from potash starvation." 



On the so-called potash lime, a by-product of potash works, P. Ehrenberg 

 and O. NoLTE {Jour. Landw., 62 {1914), No. 3, pp. 235-284).— The material 

 used in the experiments reported in this article contained 0.45 per cent of 

 potash, 42.1 of lime, and 5.3 of magnesia. Its fertilizing value, both as a source 

 of potash and of lime, was tested in comparison with lime ash in a series of 

 pot experiments with various crops on sandy and loam soil. The results of 

 these experiments showed a very low fertilizing value for the material. 



Outline of the relation of the use of lime to the improvement of the soil, 

 E. O. FrppiN {N&io York Cornell 8ta. Circ. 25 {1914), PP- 41-49) .'—This is a 

 brief popular discussion of the subject. 



Recent investigations on magnesia, E. Miege and Compain {Vie Agr. et 

 Rurale, 3 {1914), No. 19, pp. 532, 533). — Recent investigations on the lime- 

 magnesia ratio are briefly reviewed. 



