820 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



soil is to use phosphate, limestone, and manure in connection with a crop 

 rotation similar to that followed in the exporiniciits rejMirttHl. 



The economic importance of peat moors and water powers, with, special 

 reference to the air-nitrogen question, A. Benetsch (Die volksvoirtschaftliche 

 licdciituuff Ucr Torfiiioorc und Wati-scvlcrdfte unter hcsonderer Bchicksiclitigung 

 der Luftsticksioff-Frage. Berlin: F. Siemenroth, 1914, PP- V+229, pis. 7, figs. 

 11; abs. in Ztschr. Mnorkultur u. Torfvctnoert., 12 {1914), No. 5-S, p. 214). — 

 This book is divided into a general introduction and three parts, dealing, among 

 other things, with (1) the economic importance of peat and peat moors from 

 both industrial and agricultural viewpoints, containing a discussion of the 

 manufacture of illuminating gas and ammonia from peat by the Mond-Frank- 

 Caro processes as well as the use of moor soils for agricultural purposes; (2) 

 the development and use of water power, especially for the production of 

 electric power; and (3) the electrical production of nitrogen compounds from 

 the free nitrogen of the air, dealing also with the question of the production 

 of nitrogenous and other fertilizers and discussing particularly the calcium 

 cyanamid and nitrate industry as developed in different countries. 



The author holds that the nitrogen question has been satisfactorily solved 

 by the electrical fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. 



A bibliography of 212 references to the literature of the subject as well as 

 a list of German patents relating to the electrical fixation of nitrogen are 

 given. 



The utilization of peat in Italy, U. Rossi {Bol. Quind. f^oc. Agr. Ital., 19 

 (1914), No. 10, pp. 356^61; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. 

 Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 (1914), No. 8, pp. 1005, 'l006; Mitt. Ver. Ford. 

 MoorkuUur Dcut. Reiche, 32 (1914), ^o. 20, pp. 373, 376).— It is stated that 

 there are a large number of workable peat beds in Italy, and that some attempt 

 has been made at different times with little commercial success to utilize the 

 peat for fuel and other purposes and to use the peat land for agriculture. 



The most Important industrial development with reference to the utilization 

 of peat is, however, the establishment of plants at Orentano and Codigoro for 

 the manufacture of illuminating gas and ammonia by the Mond process. It is 

 stated that these plants are able to manufacture ammonia at somewhat less 

 than half the market price of this product. 



German and other sources of potash supply, C. H. Macdowell (Bui. Anier. 

 Inst. Mining Engin., No. 98 (1915), pp. 103-114; Chem. Engin., 21 (1915), No. 

 2, pp. 45-50). — The German deposits and mining methods are described, with 

 data on cost, commercial conditions, and consumption. Other possible sources 

 are also briefly discus.sed. 



Among the latter are the deposits near Kalusz in Galicia. Austria, and the 

 recently discovered deposits in Spain, which seem to be of commercial im- 

 portance; deposits of nitrate of potash in Peru; the potash .salts which may be 

 obtained from sugar-beet waste, from wool scouring, and as a by-product in 

 the manufacture of cement; the potash obtainable from kelp, alunite. feldspar, 

 leucite, and from brines obtained from alkali lakes and ponds and from borings 

 in Texas. As far as the United States is concerned, it Is stated that " up to now 

 Searles Lake is the only nearby producer on the map." 



Further exploration and investigation of methods of utilizing the sources of 

 potash named is urged. 



Investigation of sources of potash in Texas, "W. B. Phillips (Bill. Amer. 

 Inst. Mining Engin., No. 98 (1915), pp. 115-127, figs. 3).— This article deals 

 particularly with the potash brines obtained at Spur, Tex. (E. S. R., 28, p. 

 522), and with the occurrences of small amounts of potassium and sodium 



