AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 425 



"There was no Jictual production of potash salts in the United Slates in lOI.']. 

 The imports of potash salts in lOlo were valued at $10,79.1,013, ajrainst $10,002,- 

 285 in 101 L'. . . . 



"The imports of sodium nitrate for consumption in manufacture of fertilizers 

 and other chemical products amounted in value to $21,630,811 in 1913, against 

 $10,544,511 in 1912." 



The international movement of fertilizers (IntcriKtt. Inst. Afjr. [Home], 

 Mo. Bid Af/r. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 {JOJJ/), Ao. 0, pp. J101-lJ.'/2).—Th\>i 

 is the first of a series of half-yearly reports (to appear March 1 and Septem- 

 ber 1 of each year) authorized by tlie last general assembly of the International 

 Institute of Agriculture at Rome, the purpose of which is to give statistics of 

 l)roduction, imports and exports, consumption, and prices of jihosphatic, potas- 

 sic, and nitrogenous fertilizers. This number is dated September 1, 1914, and 

 gives statistics for the year 1913 as compared with 1912 and also some data 

 for the first half of 1914. 



It is stated that the world's production of natural phosphates in 191.'] was 

 6,600.458 metric tons as compared with 0,888.908 tons in 1912, the largest 

 producers being the United States, 3.202.636 tons; Tunis, 2.284,078 tons; 

 Algeria, 438,601 tons; and France. 335,0(X) tons. The production of basic slag 

 was 4,246,000 tons; and the production of German potash salts, 11.607,510 tons 

 of crude salts and 1,047.906 tons of refined salts. The amount of potash salts 

 sold for agricultural purposes, calculated as actual potash (K2O), was 1,003,913 

 tons, of which 536.102 tons was used in Germany. The figures for shig and pot- 

 ash salts show substantial increases in 1913 over 1912. Of the potash salts used 

 for agricultural purposes 749.000 tons, calculated as actual potash (K2O), was 

 used in Europe and 242,283 tons in America. The production of Chilean nitrate 

 is given as 2,586,975 tons in 1913 as compared with 2,773.459 tons in 1912. The 

 total consumption of nitrate of soda in 1913 was 2,556.971 tons; the amount 

 used for agricultural purposes was 2,098,2.30 tons. The production of sulphate 

 of ammonia was 1,448,400 tons in 1913 as compared with 1,.306,600 tons in 

 1912, the largest producers of this material being Germany, 549,000 tons; the 

 United Kingdom, 425,700 tons; and the United States, 176,900 tons. The 1913 

 figures for each of these countries represent a decided increase over those for 

 1912. The amount of sulphate of ammonia used for agricultural purposes in 

 1913 was 1,210,550 tons. It is estimated that calcium cyanamid was produced 

 in 1913 to the extent of 114,093 tons and Norwegian nitrate to the extent of 

 70.000 tons. It is stated that 6.229,777 tons of fertilizers was consumed in the 

 United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) in 1913. 



Statistics of production and consumption of crude sulphur and sulphate of 

 copper are included with those for fertilizers. 



AGRICULTTJRAL BOTANY. 



Fundamentals of plant breeding, J. M. Coulter (Xcw York and Chicago, 

 191.',, pp. Xl]'+3.'i7, fifi-s. 10'.)). — This book is intended as an interpretation of 

 recent advances in plant breeding for those who wish a simple statement of 

 evolution and heredity or information concerning plant breeding and some of 

 the fundamental ])rinciples underlying agriculture. 



After discussing variation in plants, theories of evolution, etc., the author 

 describes some of the methods by which breeding is carried on. Chapters are 

 devoted to Mendel's law and recent progress in genetics, the progress in breed- 

 ing plants resistant to drought and plant diseases, relation of forestry to the 

 subject, role of soil, etc. Condensed accounts are given of the work of this 



