I 



126 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43' 



manner but, if possible, tliey should always be applied before the planting of 

 summer crops on deep, fertile, heavy soils, and on winter crops in the fall 

 befoi-e planting. These fertilizers should be used as top-dressings only on 

 winter grain on light and medium soils in the spring. 



Experiments with lime nitrogen on rye, wheat, and sugar beets on loess 

 loam soil showed that the best results were obtained when it was added before 

 planting or as top-dressings drilled in, while the poorest results were obtained by 

 broad-spread top-dressings. Experiments with potatoes on sand soil with 

 different potash fertilizers showed that by the use of a 40 per cent potash 

 salt as a spring application there was a marked reduction in starch content, 

 while by the use of potassium sulphate in the spring the starch content \\'as 

 increased and the greatest absolute amount of starch produced. It is con- 

 cluded that potassium sulphate and potash magnesium sulphate may be simi- 

 larly used with successful results on potatoes. 



Calcium cyanamid, E. Miege (Vie Ayr. et Ruralc, 16 (1920), No. 1^, pp. 21 1~ 

 213). — A large number of experiments by others are summarized to show that 

 calcium cyanamid is innocuous to crops and valuable as a fertilizer. 



The winning of potassium nitrate and ammonium sulphate from raw 

 potasli salts — a new method for ammonia fixation, H. Hampel {('hem. Ztg., 

 43 (1919), Nos. 113, pp. 611-619; 115, pp. 634-636, figs. 2).— A process is de- 

 scribed for the fixation of coke-oven ammonia with tlie aid of the sulphuric 

 acid combined in carnallite and kainit, and data is given 'from experience at 

 different German plants to show that the process is feasible and profitable. 



Trona potash: A progress report, C. P. Blackwell and G. H. Coixings 

 (South Carolina ^Sta. Bid. 202 (1920), pp. 24).— This is a progress report of ex- 

 periments with Trona potash and borax, giving observations of results on crops 

 in the field and the results of field and greenhouse experiments. 



Field observations in the summer of 1919 led to the belief that crops had been 

 greatly damaged by the use of Trona potash. Trona potash used as a source 

 of potash in fertilizer tests, with cotton, corn, and oats, however, did not show 

 any greater loss on the average than has been produced by G,erman muriate in 

 previous years, but gave widely different results on different plats in the same 

 experiment. A special test with corn and cotton started in July showed no in- 

 jury from Trona potash or borax with any of the treatments used. Distribu- 

 tion of rainfall seemed to be an important factor in determining tlie intluence 

 of potash fertilizer. 



In a plat test of potash materials with cotton, Trona potash gave a reduced yield 

 with 900 lbs. of an 8 : 3 : 8 fertilizer per acre. Lighter applications gave no indi- 

 cations of injury as compared with Nebraska potash and cement dust. 



In a greenhouse test, sand maintained at 6 per cent moisture proved to be 

 insufficient to furnish the optimum moisture requirements of the cotton planted. 

 Sand maintained at 18 per cent moisture seemed to l)e able to furnish the 

 optimum moisture requirements of the cotton planted. Apiilications of Trona 

 potash ranging from 25 to 1.000 lbs. per acre and analyzing 17.75 per cent 

 anhydrous borax appeared to be harmless in their power to prevent the germina- 

 tion of the cotton and corn seed under the conditions of the experiment, and 

 to prevent the normal growth of young cotton plants up to the time the experir. 

 ment was diseontinued. At this time the young plants were 10 in. in height!, 

 Similar applications of Trona potash to corn did not prevent the normal gi'owth 

 of the young corn plants. Applications of Nebraska potash ranging from 200 

 to 1,000 lbs. per acre and analyzing 0.34 per cent anhydrous borax, and applica- 

 tions of commercial borax ranging from 54 to 400 lbs. per acre, also appeared 

 unable to prevent the germination and growth of both cotton and corn. 



