522 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



to their phosphoric acid content. The first group, containing from 12 to 18 

 per cent of PzOb, represents 72.9 per cent of the whole ; the second, with from 

 18 to 24 per cent represents 22.9 per cent ; the third group, containing more 

 than 24 per cent, represents only 4.2 per cent of the total. The total quantity 

 of phosphoric acid in this mass of phosphorites exceeds 500,000,000 tons." 



Phosphates and dolomites of Johnson County, Tennessee, O. P. Jenkins 

 (Resources Tenn., 6 {1916), No. 2, pp. 51-106, pi. 1, figs. 12).— This report deals 

 with the geology, mineralogy, and composition of the phosphate and dolomite 

 deposits of the county and reports chemical analyses of samples. Some of 

 the principal phosphate rocks contain over 60 per cent calcium phosphate. 



" Chemically, calcium forms the base of the phosphate. Fluorin is present 

 in amounts varying from about 1 to 1.5 per cent. Carbon dioxid is also 

 present, in amounts varying from a fraction to nearly 3 per cent, and appears 

 to vary pretty closely with the fluorin. Insoluble siliceous matter runs rather 

 high, while iron and aluminum oxid are not much above the commercial limit, 

 averaging about 5 or 6 per cent. 



" The so-called limestones of Johnson County prove to be highly magnesian, 

 and all those analyzed fall well into the class of dolomites, many of which are 

 very high in content of calcium and magnesium carbonate. The dolomites, 

 as well as some of the shales, are shown by analysis to contain from a trace 

 to over 2 per cent lime phosphate. . . . The phosphate rocks occur in many 

 pockets, scattered over the foothills of the main valleys, which lie near Moun- 

 tain City. ... It appears that the phosphate is generally too low grade to 

 be of wide commercial use at present." 



Experiments with lime and waste carbonate of lime, 1913 and 1914, A. 

 Laxtdeb, T. W. Fagan, and J. T. Steele (Edinburgh: Edinb. and East of Scot. 

 Col. Agr., 1915, pp. 10). — Two years' experiments in three different localities 

 with turnips on medium loam soil known to be affected with finger-and-toe 

 disease, to determine the effect of quicklime and waste carbonate of lime 

 when added with complete fertilization at the rates of 1, 2, 3, and 4 tons per 

 acre, are reported. 



The results obtained are taken to indicate " that a certain minimum amount 

 of lime must be present in each soil. Beyond this point an increase in the 

 amount of lime gives an increase in the effect. For the soils under experiment 

 this limit may be placed at from 1 to 2 tons per acre. The results confirm 

 those of work carried out elsewhere as to the beneficial effects of ground lime 

 and carbonate of lime on land affected with finger-and-toe [disease]. When 

 waste carbonate of lime is available it may be employed instead of ground 

 lime for neutralizing soil acidity with satisfactory results. It should be applied 

 at twice the rate of ground lime. For land which has not been limed for a 

 considerable time, dressings of 2 tons of ground lime or 3 to 4 tons of the 

 waste carbonate may profitably be given. AVhen once the deficiency in lime in 

 the soil has been made good, dressings of 10 cwt. to 1 ton per acre of ground 

 lime should be applied at regular and frequent intervals, rather than heavy 

 dressings at long intervals." 



Effect of quicklime on organic matter in soils, F. E. Bear (Jour. Anier. 

 Soc. Agron., 8 (1916), No. 2, pp. 111-113). — Experiments conducted at the West 

 Virginia Experiment Station with a silt loam soil, used in fertilizer experi- 

 ments at the station as noted by Bear (E. S. R., 35, p. 22), are reported. 



The results show that " in every case the plat receiving quicklime, as com- 

 pared with the plat receiving a corresponding fertilizer application without 

 quicklime, shows a lower content of both nitrogen and carbon. . . . The 

 results indicate that quicklime does reduce the amount of carbon and nitrogen 

 in the soil." 



