518 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The assimilation of the nitrogen of peat, P. Hoc (Prog. Agr. et Vit. {Ed. 

 I'Est-Centre), 3-i (1913), No. 20, pp. 631-635).— In pot experiments with vary- 

 ing amounts of peat containing organic matter 76.5 per cent, nitrogen 2.3 per 

 cent, phosphoric acid 0.1 per cent, potash 0.06 per cent, and calcium carbonate 

 6.1 per cent in comparison with sodium nitrate on sandy, loam, clay, and 

 calcareous soils planted to oats, the first year's results showed decided infe- 

 riority for the peat as compared with the nitrate on all except the clay soil. 

 On the latter the peat produced better results than the nitrate but this is 

 attributed to its physical effect. As no check tests are reported, the absolute 

 fertilizing effect of the peat is not shown. 



Cyanamid. — Manufacture, chemistry, and uses, E. J. Prankk (Easton, 

 Pa., and London, 1913, pp. VI +112, figs. 5). — This book deals with the manu- 

 facture, properties, methods of analysis, storage, decomposition in the soil, and 

 jigricultural use and value of cyanamid. Directions are given for the use of 

 the material as a fertilizer, alone and in combination with other fertilizing 

 materials. A chapter also deals with fire and water hazard of cyanamid. 



Papers on potash and other salines, H. S. Gale (U. S. Geol. Survey Bui. 

 54O-N, 1913, pp. 37, figs Jj ) . — This bulletin contains a series of notes on what are 

 known as the Quaternary (prehistoric) lakes of the Great Basin with special 

 reference to the deposition of salines and more particularly with reference to 

 the occurrence of potash salts. It includes discussions and analyses of the 

 brines of Death Valley, of the salt, borax, and potash in Saline Valley, Inyo 

 County, California ; potash tests from wells in Columbus Marsh, Nevada, and 

 discussions and analyses of deposits of sodium sulphate in Soda Lake in the 

 Carrizo Plains, San Luis Obispo County, California. 



The production of available potash from the natural silicates, A. S. Cush- 

 MAN and G. W. Coggeshall (Trans. Amer. Inst. Chem. Engin., 5 (1912), pp. 

 52-67), — This article has already been noted from another source (E. S. R., 

 27, p. 724). 



The decomposition of feldspar and its use in the fixation of atmospheric 

 nitrogen, W. H. Ross (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 5 (1913), No. 9, pp. 

 725-729). — Processes for decomposing silicate rocks and for fixation of nitrogen 

 are reviewed and experiments showing the fixation of nitrogen by varying pro- 

 portions of feldspar, carbon, and calcium carbonate with different times and 

 temperatures of ignition are reported. The highest fixation was obtained by 

 conducting nitrogen over a mixture of 4 parts of feldspar with 2 parts of carbon 

 and 4.3 parts of calcium carbonate heated to 1,400° C, the amount of nitrogen 

 fixed in one hour being 6.1 per cent and in two hours 7.44 per cent of the 

 feldspar taken. 



Potash, silica, and alumina from feldspar, E. Hart (Trails. Amer. Inst. 

 Chem. Engin., 5 (1912), pp. 68, 69). — This article has already been noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 28, p. 222). 



On the zeolitic properties of ground phonolite and of lime trass fertilizer 

 in comparison with certain soils, E. Bussmann (Jour. Landic, 61 (1913), 

 No. 2, tip. 97-13Jf, figs. 5; ahs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 10^ (1913), No. 

 609, I, p. 812). — The phonolite used in these experiments contained 9.41 per 

 cent of potash as silicate, and the lime trass fertilizer (a mixture of lime and 

 trass subjected to the action of steam under high pressure) contained 2.68 per 

 cent, also in the form of silicate. The absorptive power of these materials and 

 of three soils (loam, red, and marsh) for solution of ammonium chlorid, calcium 

 and potassium nitrates, magnesium sulphate, and monocalcium phosphate of 

 varying strengths was determined, but the general conclusion reached was that 

 phonolite and lime trass, used as fertilizers, are of no importance in increasing 

 the absorptive power of soils. It was found, however, that under certain con- 



