1017] SILOS FERTILIZERS. 321 



qualities of stable manure, animal refuse fertilizers, and chemical fertilizers 

 when used on garden crops are reported. The soil was a silt clay loam under- 

 lain with yellow clay and was used in five one-fortieth-acre plats. 



It was found " that stable manure is cheaper than fertilizer, even at the 

 high price of $2 per ton. Commercial fertilizers, both of mineral and 

 animal origin, will permanently improve the soil. Such large amounts as 20 

 tons of manure and a ton and a half of fertilizer were more than could be 

 applied annually with a profit to the crops grown. The residual effects from 

 both the fertilizers and the manure yielded a good profit. The most remark- 

 able gain in the 12 years was in the season of 1915, when 800 lbs. of high- 

 grade fertilizer was applied for tomatoes. This fertilizer, costing $13.50, 

 made a gain of $60 per acre." 



Experiments begun in 1913 on the use of crimson clover as a green manure 

 for tomatoes ou silty clay loam and clay loam soils are also reported. In one 

 experiment crimson clover was plowed under before blossoming and when 

 mature. In the second experiment the clover was cut when in bloom and fed 

 to cattle and the manure returned to the soil and clover was also plowed under 

 when mature. 



In the first experiment it was found that on the average the early plowed 

 plat of crimson clover gave the best results. In the second experiment the 

 largest yield was obtained on the plat from which the clover was fed to cattle. 



Experiments with nitrog'enous fertilizers, I. Jakushkin (I. V. Jakouch- 

 kine) (Iz RezuVt. Veget. Opytov Lab. Rabot {Rec. Trav. Lab. Agron.), Moskov. 

 Selsk. Khoz. Inst., 10 (1914), pp. 137-lU; ^-v. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. lyist. (Ann. 

 Inst. Agron. Moscou), 22 {1916), No. 1, pp. 1S7-144). — Experiments are reported 

 which showed favorable results from the use not only of ammonium sulphate 

 but also of ground horn and castor bean pomace. Poor results were obtained 

 with fish fertilizer, its effectiveness being only from 40 to 50 per cent of that 

 of sodium nitrate. The nitrogen of manure gave higher results when peat 

 instead of straw was used as litter. 



Preparation of dried blood in the army slaughterhouses, A. Rang {Compt. 

 Red. Acad. Agr. France, S {1911), No. 15, pp. 42S-431).~The quantity of blood 

 which may be collected from the army slaughterhouses for use as a fertilizer 

 is considerable, as the average amount is estimated at 10 kg. (22 lbs.) of 

 blood for each animal. The manufacture of coagulated blood under ordinary 

 conditions is relative simple. A method for collecting the dried blood in the 

 war zone is described in detail. The classical method of preparation of dried 

 blood with the use of ferric sulphate may be used in all the army slaughter- 

 houses, whatever may be their installation. The process is important because 

 of the great quantity of fertilizer which it produces. 



The atmospheric nitrogen industry, A. Tobiansky D'Altoff {U Industrie de 

 V Azote Atniospherique. Paris: H. Dunod d E. Pinat, 1914, pp. 16). — This is a 

 discussion of the subject in general and of several processes for the fixation of 

 atmospheric nitrogen in particular. 



The displacement of potash by ammonium nitrate, V. N. Zavaritskii (V. N. 

 Zavaritzki) {Iz Reznl.t. Veget. Opytov Lab. Rabot {Rec. Trav. Lab. Agron.). 

 Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst., 10 {1914), PP- 132-136; Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. 

 Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 22 {1916), No. 1, pp. i52-iS6).— Ammonium 

 nitrate was found to be more effective than ammonium chlorid in displacing 

 potash from such substances as biotite and similar silicates. The nitrate ex- 

 tracted from biotite appreciable amounts of potash, giving results confirming 

 those obtained in culture experiments in showing that a considerable amount of 

 the potash of this substance is available to plants. 

 5750°— 17— No. 4 3 



