522 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vo!. 37 



" Buckwheat is able to utilize the nitrogen from ammonium sulphate at an 

 acidity of from 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. of calcium oxid per acre. The nitrogen is 

 either taken up as ammonia or else nitrification proceeds to a considerable extent 

 in the presence of the acid." 



The forms of phosphorus in granitic soils, C. Vincent (Compt. Rend. Acad. 

 Sci. [Paris], 16^ (1917), So. 10, pp. JfOO-Jtll : ahs. i7i Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 

 S6 (1917), ]!^^o. 8, pp. 465, -iGS). — It is pointed out that while granitic soils are 

 generally supposed to be poor in phosphoric acid since they respond to phos- 

 phatic applications, the application of lime or chalk has a similar effect. This 

 is attributed to the existence of the phosphoric acid in unavailable organic c«m- 

 binatious witli humus which must be neutralizetl before the phosphoric acid 

 becomes available. 



" If these soils be digested near tlie boiling point with concentrated nitric 

 acid for four hours, only a portion of the total phosphoric acid is found on 

 analysis, but if the soil be first neutralized with lime, or dried and calcined, 

 before digestion, the whole of the phosphoric acid is obtained ; the difference 

 may be very considerable. Under these conditions the granitic soils are found 

 to be moderately rich in pliosplioric acid and some of them very rich. In the 

 majority of ca.<es the application of a liglit dressing of lime, calculated for fcnir 

 to five years, combined if necessary with potash and farmyard manures, will 

 suffice to make the phosphoric acid and a portion of the nitrogen readily 

 available." 



Report on availability of potash, E. E. Vanatta (Jour. Assoc. Off. Agr. 

 Chcm., S (.1917), So. 1, pp. 105-107). — Pot experiments with sweet corn con- 

 ducted at the Missouri Exi)eriment Station are reported in which a mixture of 

 washed quartz sand with suflkient fine ground feldspar to supply 0.G6 per 

 cent total potash was used. Sufficient other fertilizer for maxinmm plant 

 growth was also added. Other individual treatments included the addition of 

 blue grass at the rate of 30.000 lbs. per acre, heating the feldspar to 100° C, 

 and the addition of calcium carbonate at the rate of 4,500 lbs. per acre, of 

 calcium oxid at the rate of 3,000 lbs. per aero, and of starch at tlie rate of 

 10.000 lbs. per acre. 



It was found that " the addition of a large amount of organic matter in the 

 form of blue grass . . . had a beneficial effect on plant growth, eitlier by fur- 

 nishing available potash on its decay or by liberating potash from the feldspar. 

 The addition of organic matter In the form of starch . . . retarded plant growth. 

 Calcium carbonate apparently . . . had slight effect on plant growth, while 

 calcium oxid apparently . . . retarded plant growth. The results of this work 

 indicate that the potash compounds in feldspathic rock are of little value in 

 furnishing readily available plant food." 



Importance of developing our natural resources of potash, F. W. Bkown 

 (U. S. Dcpt. Agr. Yearbook 1916, pp. SOl-310, pi. 1).— This article deals with 

 the natural and artificial potash resources of the United States, including by- 

 products of cement manufacture, blast-furnace gas, wool and wood wastes, 

 natural lake brines, alunite, and kelp. Processes of extracting potash from these 

 are briefly described. 



"At present the Pacific kelps appear to be one of the most hopeful sources of 

 an adequate supply of potasli for the country's needs." 



Fertilizer experiments with lime on tobacco soils, 1912-13, N. H. Cohen 

 (Proefstat. Vorstcnlaud. Tabak [Dutch Eaftt Indies], ilcdcd. 17 (1915). pp. 

 5-15). — Fertilizer experiments to determine the influence of liming on the 

 quality, color, and burning qualities of tobacco .showed that liming did not 

 increase the tobacco yield but improved its quality and color and the color of 

 the ash. Its burning qualities were injured, however. 



