AGEICULTURAL BOTANY. 731 



Tests of radio-active substances, F. Berthauxt, L. BRfixiGNifiRE, and P. 

 Berthatjlt {Ann. Ecolc Nat. Agr. Grignon, 3 (li)12), pp. 1-62; abst. in Intcrnat. 

 Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 4 (1913), No. 8, pp. 

 1202-1204) • — In culture experiments in which uranium oxid was added to the 

 normal nutrient solutions at varying rates from 0.05 to 1 per cent it was found 

 that the yield of beans was increased by the addition of the oxid in all amounts 

 used. The oxid, however, did not increase the yield of barley and proved 

 positively injurious to maize. In a series of plat tests of a so-called radio- 

 active fertilizer on a great variety of crops only inconclusive results were 

 obtained. The material used showed little or no radio-active power, but it 

 contained a considerable amount of phosphoric acid which the experiments 

 showed was in no way comparable with superphosphate in effectiveness. 



Night soil (Rev. Chim. Indus., 2Jf (WIS), No. 285, pp. 227, 228).— Various 

 preservatives and disinfecting preparations for use with night soil are de- 

 scribed, and their effect upon the fertilizing value of the substance is discussed. 



The use of commercial fertilizers in pond culture, T. Foitik (Monatsh. 

 Landw., 6 (1913), No. 8, pp. 2^1-250). — The comparative economy of fertilizing 

 the pond and directly feeding the fish was studied in these experiments. 



Pond fertilizing experiments, E. Neeesheimer (MonatsJi. Landw., 6 (1913), 

 No. S, pp. 225-238). — No such marked beneficial results from applying fertilizers 

 to fish ponds were obtained as are reported by Kuhnert (E. S. R., 26, p. 811). 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, H. M. Stackhouse, R. N. Beackett, 

 ET AL. (South Carolina Sta. Bui. 112, pp. 77). — This bulletin contains analyses 

 and valuations of 1,922 samples of commercial fertilizers inspected during the 

 season of 1912-13, accompanied by the usual explanatory notes. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. L. Hills et al. (Vermont Sta. Bui. 173, pp. 219- 

 27Jf). — This bulletin reports analyses and valuations of samples representing 

 177 brands of fertilizers collected in Vermont during the spring of 1913 with 

 the usual notes and explanations. These brands represented the output of 19 

 companies. " Eighty-six per cent of the brands met their guaranties. Three 

 brands failed to afford a commercial equivalent of the promises made for 

 them. . . . The quality of the crude stock used in furnishing phosphoric acid and 

 potash, and almost always of organic nitrogen, seemed to be beyond reproach." 



Commercial fertilizers: Inspection 1912, B. H. Hite and F. B. Kunst (West 

 Virginia Sta. Insp. Bui. 1, pp. 37). — This bulletin reports actual and guarantied 

 analyses of commercial fertilizers inspected during the year 1912. Those fer- 

 tilizers in which the sum total of the available phosphoric acid, the ammonia, 

 and the potash claimed falls below 12 per cent are designated low grade. Those 

 running as high as 14 per cent are marked high grade. The inadvisability of 

 using low-grade fertilizers is strongly emphasized. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Studies on temperatures in relation to seeds and seedling's of wheat, 

 Gerteud MtJLLER (Ztsclir. Pflanzenkrank., 23 (1913), No. 4, pp. 193-19S). — The 

 author gives the tabulated results as to capacity for germination and growth ob- 

 tained by her from numerous treatments of seed wheat by combining through 

 considerable ranges the factors of temperature, moisture, and time. Dried grain 

 kept at 71 to 73° C. for 1 hour lost only 6 per cent of its germinability, while 

 that kept at 60° for 15 hours germinated better than did the control seed. 



On various methods for determining osmotic pressures, A. C. Halket (New 

 Phytol., 12 (1913), No. 4-5, pp. 164-176, figs. 2).— The author reviews different 

 methods of determining osmotic pressure, particularly the plasmolytic method, 

 direct and indirect determinations, physiological methods, and the determination 



