SOILS FEBTILIZEES. 319 



consumption of ammoninm sulphate in the United States last year is stated to 

 be 215,000 tons." 



Aluminum nitrid and the nitrogen problem, O. Serpek (Osterr. Chem. Ztg., 

 16 (WIS), No. 8, pp. lOJf-109, figs. 5).— The Serpek process and its iudustrial 

 possibilities are discussed. 



Some preliminary experiments on the use of sodium bisulphate in the 

 preparation of double superphosphate, F. T. Periturin {Izv. Moskov. Selsk. 

 Khoz. Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 19 (1913), No. 1, pp. 142-151).— The 

 autho studied the equilibrium of sodium bisulphate and ortliophosphoric acid 

 in solutiou and the behavior on evai oration of the solutiOL in relation to the 

 preparation of double superphosphates. 



Experiments with phosphatic fertilizers in Uruguay, J. Schkodee (Rev. 

 Asoc. Rural Uruguay, Ji2 (1913), No. 2, pp. 94-98). — The results of comparative 

 tests of bone meal, superphosphate, and Thomas slag are reported wth analyses 

 of '." soil used in the experiments. 



European imports of phosphate, L. Memmingeb. A. Gaulin, and R. P. 

 Skinner (Daily Cons, and Trade Rpis. [U. .?.], 16 {1913), No. 67, pp. 1^27- 

 1429). — It is stated that the French imports of phosphates in 1912 amounted to 

 903,489 metric tons, of which over 700,000 tons came from Tunis. The total 

 German imports of phosphates in that year amounted to 902,844 tons, of which 

 342,646 tons came from the United States and over 300,000 tons came from 

 Al.ceria and Tunis. 



Eield experiments to determine the effect of the potash of phonolite, 

 L. Hiltneb and F. Lang {Prakt. Bl. Pflanzenbau u. Schutz, n. ser., 11 (1913), 

 Nos. 2, pp. 13-16; S, pp. 38-41). — In experiments with different crops, using 

 phonolite and kainit in connection with green manure, tlie potash of the phono- 

 lite was on the average about 36 per cent as effective as that of kainit. The 

 author believes that further experiments are needed to determine the exact 

 practical value of phonolite. 



The use of Bohemian phonolite for fertilizing purposes, F. Seemann 

 (Landw. Jahrb., 43 (1913), No. 4, pp. 509-520; ahs. in Ztsehr. Angew. Chem., 

 26 (1913), No. 24, Referatentcil, p. i95).— Phonolite containing from 4 to 6 per 

 cent of potash, of which not more than 2 per cent was soluble, was found to be 

 much inferior in fertilizing effect to leucite containing from 9 to 10 per cent of 

 potiish, of which 3^ per cent was soluble. The solubility of the potash of the 

 phonolite was increa.sed by the addition of lime salts, and humus, brit to a less 

 extent than in case of the leucite. 



Origin and formation of the German potash deposits, H. E. Boeke (Um- 

 schau, 17 (1913), No. 11, pp. 207-210, figs. S).— The various theories which have 

 been advanced as to the origin and formation of the Gorman potash deposits 

 are critically discussed in this article. 



Prospecting for potash (Amcr. Fcrt., 38 (1913), No. 9, pp. 4//, 45).— This 

 is a preliminary account of investigations by the U. S. Geological Survey in 

 Death Valley, California, which did not indicate the occurrence of any exten- 

 sive segregated deposits of potash salts. 



Sulphur as a fertilizer, Tritschler (Deut. Landw. Presse, 40 (1913), No. 33, 

 p. 405). — In experiments with mangel-wurzels the use of sulphur slightly in- 

 creased the yield and sugar content, but this is attributed not so much to the 

 fertilizing effect of the sulphur as to its protection of the crop from insects and 

 disease. 



Utilization of the waste from the manufacture of trinitrotoluene, V. P. 

 KocHETKOv (Izv. Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 19 

 (1913), No. 1, pp. 56-59). — This waste, which contained from 62 to 72 per cent 

 of sulphuric acid and 2 to 3 per cent of nitric add, was. used in the preparation 



