24 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



ammonium sulphate. With fodder beets the sodium nitrate gave better results 

 than the other materials. 



The relation of the production of alumina to the fixation of nitrogen, 

 S. A. TucKEB (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 5 (WIS), No. 3, pp. 191, 192).— 

 This article deals mainly with the reactions involved in the Serpek process, 

 which is stated to be " primarily one for the fixation of nitrogen, but neces- 

 sarily involves the production of alimaina as a by-product and this by-product 

 is all important to the success of the process commercially." The process is 

 briefly compared with other processes for the fixation of nitrogen. 



Ammonium sulphate from ammonia and sulphur dioxid, W. Feld (Sci. 

 Amer. Sap., 15 {1913), No. 19^, PP- 227, 218, fig. i).— This article describes 9 

 process in successful operation in the municipal gas works of Konigsberg, 

 Prussia, for the direct production of ammonium sulphate from ammonia and 

 hydrogen sulphid in coal gas. 



The electrotechnical production of ammonia (Zischr. Angcw. Chem., 2.5 

 {1912), No. lih, pp. 2258, 2259; Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 5 {1913), No. 1, 

 p. 75). — Reference is made to two companies engaged in this industry and a 

 tliird being organized for the purpose in Norway. 



Manufacture and uses of cyanamid, E. J. Pranke (Chem. Engin., 11 {1913), 

 No. S, pp. 113-115). — The history of the process of cyanamid manufacture is 

 briefly reviewed and methods- of manufacture with reactions involved are 

 described. The use of the material as a fertilizer and its action in the soil 

 are discussed, the author accepting Ulpiani and Kappen's conclusion (E. S. R., 

 24, pp. 226, 323) " that cyanamid applied to the soil is completely converted in 

 the course of a few days into urea, by the catalytic action of the colloids and 

 other constituents of the soil, in accordance with the following reactions: 



CaCN2+2H:0=Ca ( OH ) =+H,CN, 

 H;CN=-t-H20=CO(NH2)2." 



It is stated that " the urea is further converted by bacterial action and pos- 

 sibly by chemical processes into ammonia, which further reacts with zeolites, 

 humates, and other soil constituents, to form double ammoniiim salts, that are 

 retained as a part of the soil until further bacterial action or the solvent effect 

 of plant roots makes them available to vegetation." 



The use of cyanamid for the production of ammonia, cyanid, dicyaiidiamid 

 (for use in dyeing), and other derivatives is biiefly referred to. 



"At present there are 4 factories in Germany, 4 in Italy, 2 in France, and 1 

 each in Austria, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, and America." 



On calcium cyanamid as a fertilizer, J. Sebelien {Tidsskr. Norske Landhr., 

 19 {1912), No. 6. pp. 263-216). — The history of cyanamid and the results of 

 fertilizer experiments with it by different investigators are presented. On 

 account of the possibility of losses of nitrogen and the poisonous effects of the 

 fertilizer that have been observed at times, the efforts of manufacturers have 

 lately been directed toward converting the cyanamid into nonvolatile ammonia- 

 cal form (ammonium sulphate). 



Is it advisable to mix calcium cyanamid with superphosphate before 

 application? P. Christensen {Ugeskr. Landm., 58 {1913), No. 4, pp. 51-53). — 

 The author shows that on account of the basic character of calcium cyanamid, 

 which contains about 00 per cent of lime and IS per cent of nitrogen, the water- 

 soluble phosphoric acid in superphosphate is rendered insoluble within a short 

 time, even when the mixed fertilizer contains only one-eighth of its weight of 

 cyanamid. He therefore advises strongly against mixing the two fertilizers 

 prior to their application. 



