1920] SOILS FERTILIZERS. 425 



acid pliosplinte and rook pliospliMte were used with stable manure and legumes, 

 better results were geneialiy obtained with the acid phosphate. 



Tests at the Central farm showed a deficiency of vegetable matter in the 

 soil. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid increased crop yields, but the use of potash 

 with these fertilizers was found to be of little importance at present prices. 

 It was found that a rotation simply of corn and cotton, without lime, using 

 rye and crimson ck)ver as winter cover crops had little improving effect on 

 the soil. 



Experiments with tobacco at the Reidsville farm showed the beneficial 

 Influence of potash, especially potassium chlorid. Ammonium nitrate from 

 the JIuscle Shoals Nitrate Plant was also found to give good results with 

 tobacco. A 1-year test of basic ferric sulphate did not indicate any value for 

 the growth of tobacco. 



Fertilizer and crop tests in Java and the east coast of Sumatra. — Re- 

 port for the Avest monsoon, 1917-1918, C. van Rossem {Dept. Landb., 

 Niji'- en Handel [Dutch East Indies], j\fcdcd. Alg. Proefsta. Landb., No. 3 

 (10 J9), pp. 12S, figs. 12). — A large number of different fertilizer experiments 

 with rice, tea, and sugar cane conducted in .Tava and the west coast of Sumatra 

 with different nitrogenous, phosphatic, and potassic fertilizers are reported, 

 together with data on crop yields and revenues. Data on the residual action 

 of different fertilizers are also included. 



ElYect upon profit of quantity of fertilizer used on cotton, C. B. Wil- 

 liams (North Carolina Sta. Rpt. 1919, pp. 23, 2/t). — The average results of 

 long continued experiments at three of the station fai-ms showed that, "other 

 things being equal, the most profitable yields should be secured by materially 

 Increasing the yields per acre above what they are on an average at present 

 and, if necessary to maintain a definite yield for the farm, reduce the acreage 

 of the crop. In other words, where good farming is done, relatively large 

 yields per acre are best. Not the largest yields, however, are always the most 

 profitable ones." 



The data indicate that on an average the best paying results above the cost 

 of fertilizer were obtained from an application of 1,200 lbs. of complete fer- 

 tilizer per acre. When the application was increased the profit was less. 



Consumption of inorganic nitrogen in the United States, D. P. Gaillard 

 (Chem. and Metall. Engin., 22 (1920), No. 17, pp. 783-7S(k fig. 1).—A study of 

 the consumption of inorganic nitrogen in agricultui'e, industry, and for mili- 

 tary purposes is reported, the purpose being to forecast future consumption on 

 the basis of conditions during the past 20 years. 



It is shown that from 1899 to 1914 the consumption of fertilizer in this coun- 

 try practically tripled, an increase substantially equivalent to an increase each 

 year of 7.5 per cent over the previous year. It is considered conservative to 

 assume that this growth will continue at this prewar rate of 7.5 per cent per 

 year at least until 1!)24. " This would give a total ferilizer consumption for 

 4024 of 10,500,000 tons. . . . The rate of growth from 1924 to 1930 has been 

 assumed to continue uniformly at a somewhat slower rate, an increa.se little 

 less than 800,000 tons a year, which gives for 19.30 a total consumptiou of 

 15,200,000 tons." 



In 1899, statistics indicate, about five-sixths of the nitrogen in mixed fer- 

 tilizers, together with that used separately, came from organic nitrogenous ma- 

 terials; in 1904, about three- fourths ; in 1909, slightly over half; in 1914, sliglitly 

 under half; and in 1919, somewhat over a third. It is estimated that in 1924 

 this proportion will not be more than a fifth and in 1930 not more tlian a tenth, 

 as in 1924 there will be available not more than 45,000 Ions of nitrogen from 



