624 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" When phosphoric acid was applied to a limestone soil in the form of acid 

 |ihosphate, which is soluble in water, it was not fixed in an insoluble form and 

 its availability was not decreased in the five-year period. Similar results were 

 secured where other forms of phosphoric acid were applied. 



" The results indicate that the phosphoric acid applied was carried down to 

 depths gi-eater than 7 in. and later, by evaporation, concentrated in the upper 

 layers of the soil. 



*• The application of lime alone did not show any consistent effect upon the 

 solubility of phosphoric acid and potash. 



" On this limestone soil the water-soluble phosphoric acid was found to be a 

 more or less constant quantity and was not affected by applications of fertilizers 

 or manures." 



Nature of the changes in the solubility and availability of phosphorus in 

 fermenting mixtures, W. E. Tottingham and C. Hoffmann (Wisconsin Sta. 

 Research Bui. 29, pp. 273-321, fig^. 3). — Tbis is a technical and detailed account 

 of investigations which have been previously noted from another source (E. S. 

 R.. 28, p. 815; 29. p. 23). _ 



Formation of nitrate from peat nitrogen, I. V. Iakushkin (Isv. Moskov. 

 Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscoii), 19 {1913), No. 2, pp. 400-.'fl4, 

 fig^ ^). — The investigations reported show that peat nitrogen has, to a fairly 

 large extent, the capacity to form nitrates. Inoculation with cultures of 

 BaciUus mycoides increased to an appreciable extent the formation of ammonia 

 and subsequently of nitrate. In a peat rich in nitrogen, composted for nine 

 months with a large quantity of lime with 75 per cent of moisture and at a 

 temperature of about 25° C. 1.5 gm. of nitrate nitrogen per kilogram of uir-dry 

 materia] was obtained without the addition of ammonium salts. There was 

 no loss of nitrate nitrogen when peat, which had been thus enriched in nitrate, 

 was dried and left exposed to the air in dry condition. 



The solvent action of ammonium salts on phosphorite in sand cultures, 

 F. V. Chirikov {Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 

 19 (1913), No. 2, pp. 241-2^9). — The results of experiments with varying pro- 

 portions of calcium nitrate and ammonium sulphate, here reported, show that 

 the yield of barley was increased by replacing calcium nitrate with ammonium 

 sulphate up to the point where one-half of the nitrate was so replaced. Beyond 

 that point the yield declined. With lupines, however, the yield decreased with 

 increase of the ammonium sulphate in the solution, due to the sensitiveness of 

 the lupine to acid conditions. When ammonium sulphate was used alone and 

 sufficient calcium carbonate added to secure complete neutralization, the yield 

 of lupines was increased. Graminese utilized the phosphorite well when am- 

 monium nitrate was present, but when a quantity of calcium carbonate equiva- 

 lent to the acid of the nitrate was added the yield declined. 



Superphosphates of different kinds in sand cultures, S. I. Kalinkin and 

 I. V. fvKTJSHKiN (Izv. Moskov. Sclsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 

 19 (1913), No. 2, pp. 233-21)0, figs. 3). — In these experiments comparative tests 

 were made of superi)hosphates prepared by the treatment of Russian phosphor- 

 ites with bisulphate residue from powder manufacture and the acid wastes 

 from the manufacture of nitro-toluene and the purification of naphtha. These 

 phosphates were fully as assimilable and efficient as those prepared in the 

 ordinary way. 



The assimilation of metaphosphate and pyrophosphate by plants. B. M. 

 Arnoldi (fzv. Mo.skov. Sel.<^k. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou). 19 (1913), 

 No. 2, pp. 252-255). — Metaphosphnte was well assimilated by oats and com- 

 pletely utilized by buckwheat in sand cultures. With pyrophosphate, however. 



