516 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The influence of the mechanical composition of the soil on the availability 

 of nitrate of soda and dried blood, J. G. I^ii'man et al. {Neto Jersey Stas. Bui. 

 268 U'Jl.'i), pp. 5-lD, fujs. 5; Kpt. 1<J13, pp. J,o8-.i71, figs. 5).— This is au account 

 of a continuation during 1913 of experiments begun in 1911 (E. S. R., 30, p. 

 324). The results are summarized as follows: 



"When sand M'as mixed with shale soil (Teun loam) in varying proportions, 

 the yield of dry matter and the pe'rcentage of nitrogen recovered from nitrate 

 of soda were greater with 10 to 70 per cent of sand than they were with the 

 shale soil alone, or with 80, 90, or 100 per cent of sand. The highest yield of dry 

 matter and percentage of nitrogen recovered occuri'od with 50 per cent of sand. 



"With dried blood the yield of diy matter and the percentage of nitrogen 

 recovered were higher in pure sand, and in all dilutions, than with the shale 

 soil alone. 



"In no case was the yield of barley (first crop) on the check cylinders as 

 high as the yields on the cylindei's that received nitrate of soda and dried 

 blood. 



" With the residual crop of buckwheat no nitrogen was recovered from three 

 of the series that received nitrate of soda, while comparatively small amounts 

 were recovered from the other series. With dried blood there was some recov- 

 ery in all series, the highest occurring in Series ' D ' with 30 i)er cent of sand. 



" With the first crop, barley, the highest average 3-ield of dry matter and 

 nitrogen was from the nitrate of soda cylinders ; with the residual crop of buck- 

 wheat the highest average yield of dry matter and nitrogen was from the dried 

 blood cylinders. With the combined crop the average yield of dry matter and 

 nitrogen were very nearly the same for the two nitrogenous materials. For 

 the check cylinders, the average yield of dry matter and nitrogen was slightly 

 higher with the residual crop than with the first crop. 



" The fact that the average yield of dry matter and nitrogen for the com- 

 bined crops was about the same with nitrate of soda and dried blood does not 

 necessarily lead to the conclusion that these two materials are equally good 

 for all types of soil. In the discussion it has been shown that for the shale 

 soil, and dilutions up to and including 70 per cent of sand, the average avail- 

 ability of dried blood is 70.6 when nitrate of soda is placed at 100, while, with 

 SO to 100 per cent of sand, the average availability of dried blood is 250 when 

 nitrate of soda is i^laced at lOO. From this it must be inferred that for all 

 except very sandy soils nitrate of soda shows a higher availability than dried 

 blood. 



" The average percentage of nitrogen in the di-y matter is higher for both 

 crops with nitrate of soda than with dried blood or with the check cylinders. 



" With most soils we need not expect much residual effect from moderate 

 applications of nitrate of soda. We may expect some residual effect from dried 

 blood in nearly all cases. 



" The actual net recovery of nitrogen from the humus of the shale soils to 

 which varying amounts of sand had been added is greater in every case than 

 the theoretical amount as calculated from the recovery from pure shale soil. 

 Mixing sand with heavy soils permits better aeration and drainage and results 

 in a more complete utilization of the nitrogen in the organic matter." 



[Production and consumption of Chilean nitrate] {Assoe. Sal. Propaganda, 

 (fire. Trimcst. 62 {191J,), pp. L7/-f 7-f-JJi).— This is a detailed report on the 

 nitrate of soda industry of Chile for the year ended June 30, 1914. It is stated 

 that the production of nitrate during that year was 3.165.9S9 short tons as 

 compared with 3.020.083 tons the previous year. The exportation was 2.984.565 

 tons as compared with 2,971,412 tons the previous year. The consumption was 

 3,002,271 tous as compared with 2,791,330 tons the previous year. 



