628 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



the product. However, the cyananiid process is considered to be tlie ouly practi- !•! 

 cable and commercial method establislied in the United States at tlie present time n 

 for the direct fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. It is further concluded that if 

 the industry employing the Haber method should be developed to keep pace 

 with other nations the research in the process should be carried on by the ,ij 

 Government. 



Nitrate of lime: Its nianufactiire and use, G. A. Cowie {Jour. Min. Agr. 

 [Loudon], 21 {1920), No. 1, pp. JtS-Jf8). — Information on the manufacture and j 

 use of nitrate of lime is given, and data from experiments with different crops [;■ 

 on various soils are reported. In most cases nitrate of lime gave results equal !' 

 to those produced by sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate, and on soils i 

 deficient in lime it gave better results. 



Study on cyananiid and its transformation into ammonium sulphate, 

 NiTKicus {Rev. Prod. Chim. [Paris], 22 {1919), No. 22, pp. 587-592; 28 {1920), 

 Nos. 1, pp. 1, 3-6; 4, PP- 89-92, figs. Uf). — This article reports a physico-chemical 

 study of the formation of calcium cyananiid and related matters, and reviews 

 data on its fertilizing value indicating that it is a fairly efficient nitrogenous 

 fertilizer when compared with ammonium sulphate. It should be mixed with 

 other fertilizer materials only in small quantities, and it is best used broadcast 

 before seeding time, preferably in the fall. 



A further study is reported on the polymerization of cyanamid and the 

 preparation of ammonia and finally of ammonium sulphate by the use of sul- 

 phuric acid. Data are also reviewed on the fertilizing value of ammonium 

 sulphate. 



Fertilizer experiments with deteriorated lime nitrogen, M. Popp {Mitt. 

 Deut. handle. Gesell., 3J, {1919), No. 12, pp. 169-171; abs. in Zentbl. Agr. CJiem., 

 49 {1920), No. 3, pp. 88-93). — Experiments are reported which showed that lime 

 nitrogen kept perfectly dry will within a year's time undergo decomposition 

 resulting in the transformation of about a third of the total nitrogen into the 

 form of dicyandiainid. 



Pot experiments with tomatoes showed the injurious action of the deterior- 

 ated lime nitrogen, even though it was applied eight days before setting out 

 the plants and not as a top-dressing. The injurious action of the deteriorated 

 lime nitrogen was considerably decreased by mixing it with from 3 to 4 per cent 

 of so-called humus carbolineum, which also increased the utilization of the 

 nitrogen of the lime nitrogen to a marked degree. 



It is concluded that the farmer in purchasing lime nitrogen should be assured 

 that it is free from materials injurious to plants. 



The prevention of volatilization of ammonia nitrogen by calcium chlorid, 

 A. Stutzer {Fiihiing's Landw. Ztg., 69 {1920), No. 3-4, pp. 73, 74).— In a second 

 contribution to the subject (E. S. R., 42, p. 22), the author reports further ex- 

 periments with calcium chlorid added to ammonium carbonate in amounts 

 calculated on the water-free basis, showing that calcium chlorid is very effective 

 in fixing the ammonia and much more so than previously reported. Consider- 

 able value is attached to its use with liquid manure. 



The solubility of mono- and diammonium phosphate, G. H. Buchanan 

 and G. B. Winner (Jour. Indus, and Engin. CJiem., 12 {1920), No. 5, pp. 4-'i8- 

 451, figs. 3). — Data and curves from solubility determinations made on the two 

 commercially important ammonium phosphates are reported. The following 

 solubility equations are derived, representing the grams of the salt dissolved 

 in 100 gm. of the saturated solution between the temperature limits given : Solu- 

 bility monoammonium phosphate from 5 to 90° C.=18+0.455i; solubility diam- 

 monium phosphate from 10 to 70° =36.5-1-0.213*. 



