624 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOED. 



oi)tinium for the [growth of the iiiirtk-ular kind uf ijlauL under experiment. 

 " To create such a condition there would usually be required the addition of a 

 larger amount of lime in connection with sulphate of ammonia, because it is 

 I)l).vsiolof,'icall.y acid; and inasmuch as such lar{,'er amount has not thus far been 

 aiqilied in the present experiment, only those plants which prefer moderate soil 

 aridity have usually grown better on the limed sulphate of annuonia plat than 

 on I he limed nitrate of soda plat, whereas the reverse is true of those plants 

 which are sensitive to acidity. This indicates that in the present experiment 

 the reaction of the soil may have had a more important influence on growth 

 than the form of the nitrogen." 



The use of lime on land, F. D. Gardner (Pennsylvania Sta. Bui. 131 (1914), 

 pp. lll-20.'i, fiff.t. 3). — The wide distribution in Pennsylvania of acid soils, that 

 is, soils on which clover fails, is pointed out, this condition being attributed 

 1o a deficiency of lime which may occur even in soils originally rich in lime. 

 Iveference is made to numerous tests which have shown that red clover fai!.<-' 

 when the lime requirement of the soil is l.-WO to 1,700 lbs. of burnt or caustic 

 lime, equivalent to 2,700 to 3,000 lbs. of carbonate of lime or crushed limestone 

 per acre to a depth of 7 in. On the other hand, red clover grows without seri- 

 ous check on a soil of which the lime requirement is only 500 to 1,000 lbs. per 

 acre. In ordinary farm practice the acidity seldom becomes so marked as to 

 alTect noticeably the growth of cereals and grasses. 



Pot experiments made by the station are cited to show that finely pulverized 

 limestone is as prompt and effective in correcting soil acidity and promoting 

 the growth of clover as equivalent amounts of caustic lime. The station field 

 experiments extending over a long period of time showed a steady increase in 

 the lime requirement and in the benefit from liming and that the lime require- 

 ment of soils is greatly increased by the continued use of ammonium sulphate. 

 The field tests indicated no advantage in applying more than sufficient lime to 

 neutralize the acids present in the soil and showed that large applications vary- 

 ing from 1,9.80 to 29.556 lbs. per acre were wasteful so far as the needs for five 

 or six years are concerned. It was found that " the lime requirement indicated 

 by the Veitch method falls about one-third short of the actual amount of lime 

 advisable to apply under field conditions. This suggests that a third to a half 

 more of lime should be applied in farm practice than is indicated by the Veitch 

 method if the soil is to be neutral after one or two crops have been grown." 



Fertilizer analyses, A. J. Patten, O. B. Winter, and O. F. Jensen (Michigan 

 Sta. Bui. 274 (1914), pp. J-28).— Analyses of 327 brands of fertilizers licensed 

 for sale in Michigan in 1914 are reported, with a general discussion of the 

 results of the inspection and the text of the state fertilizer law as amended in 

 1913. 



The fertilizer inspection for 1914, B. E. Curry and T. O. Smith (yew 

 Ilompsltire tSla. Bui. 113 (1914), PP- i/).— Analyses of 184 brands of fertilizers 

 offered for sale in New Hampshire during the year are reported. It is stated 

 that these brands " almost without exception, have met their guaranty in every 

 respect." Reference is made to a so-called mineral fertilizer, the approximate 

 value of which, on the basis of analysis, was GO cts. per ton, or one twenty-fifth 

 of the price at which it sells wholesale. 



Analyses and valuations of commercial fertilizers, fertilizer supplies, and 

 home mixtures, C. S. Cathcart et al. (Xrw Jersey SMs. Bill. 272 (1914), PP- 

 43). — Analyses and valuations of 576 fertilizers and fertilizing materials, rep- 

 resenting a portion of the brands of fertilizers collected and examined during 

 the season of 1914, are reported and discussed. 



