318 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ing phosphates from urine by means of calcium hydroxid is briefly described, 

 and it is suggested that this may furnish a means of preventing a large waste 

 of phosphate. 



The original chemical composition of Peruvian gnano {Riquesa Agr. 

 {Lima, Peru}, 1 {1912), No. 10, pp. 6Jf3-64&, figs. 6; ahs. in Intemat. Inst. Agr. 

 [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 4 {1913), No. 2, pp. 194- 

 196) _ — This article shows the variation in composition of Peruvian guano as 

 dependent upon (1) the species of birds producing it, (2) the geogi-aphical 

 situation of the deposits, especially with reference to rainfall, (3) the period 

 of formation, (4) the depth of strata used, and (5) the feather content. 



The composition of the guano varies widely with the species of bird pro- 

 ducing it. The greater the rainfall the lower the nitrogen content and the 

 higher the pho^horic acid content of the guano. The older the guano the 

 poorer it is in nitrogen. The nearer the deposits are to the surface of the 

 ground the smaller the amount of organic matter. The nitrogen content in- 

 creases with the content of feathers, but a large admixture of feathers is 

 undesirable for various reasons. 



Some analyses of fish scrap, J. R. Lindemuth and E. G. Pabkeb {Jour. 

 Indus, and Engin. Chertu, 5 {1913), No. 5, pp. SS8, 389 ) .—Methods and results 

 of analyses of 11 samples of fish scrap are reported. 



The menhaden industry, J. W. Turrentine {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 

 5 {1913), No. 5, pp. 37S-3S8). — The history and present status of methods used 

 and the output, quality, and value of oil and fish scrap (fertilizer and feed) 

 produced are discussed. 



Nitrate shales, W. Dunstan {Agr. Jour. Egupt, 2 {1913), No. 2, pp. 89-91).— 

 Analyses of shales from the Kena district of Upper Egypt, showing from 4.S5 

 to 15.43 per cent of sodium nitrate, are reported, also results of attempts to 

 extract the nitrate from the shales by fractional percolation with limited 

 amounts of water. It was found to be possible to obtain a saline product 

 containing about 50 per cent of sodium nitrate combined with about 38 per cent 

 of sodium chlorid and 10 per cent of sodium sulphate. 



On the influence of calcium nitrate and ammonium sulphate on the 

 assimilation of phosphoric acid of raw phosphates, N. Nedokuchaev {Zhur. 

 Opytn. Agron. {Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), U, {1913), No. 1, pp. 1-21).— Pot 

 and field experiments with oats, flax, and potatoes were carried out from 1909 

 to 1911 to determine the influence of calcium nitrate and ammonium sulphate 

 on the assimilation of phosphoric acid of phosphorite. In the pot experiments 

 quartz sand and loam soil were used. The field experiments were made only 

 on loam soil. 



The yield was in all cases increased where ammonium sulphate was used, 

 due in the author's opinion to the influence of the sulphate in rendering the 

 phosphoric acid more soluble. The yield was reduced where calcium nitrate 

 was used, due to the fact that the lime of the nitrate reduced the assimlla- 

 bility of the phosphoric acid. 



The production of ammonium sulphate in 1912 {Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 5 {1913), No. 3, p. 253; abs. in Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. [U. 8.], 

 16 {1913), No. 101, p. 575). — It is stated that the world's output of ammonium 

 sulphate during 1912 was as follows: Germany, 465,000 tons; United King- 

 dom, 379.000 tons; United States, 155,000 tons; P'rance. 68.500 tons; Belgium. 

 49,500 tons; other countries, 170,000 tons, making a total of 1,287.000 tons. 



"Most of the ammonium sulphate is obtained as a by-product in gas works, 

 and is derived by neutralizing the ammoniacal liquor by sulphuric acid and 

 then crystallizing out the sulphate. Germany's lead in the production is due 

 to her increasing use of by-product coke ovens and producer gas plants. The 



