28 EXPERIMENT STATION BECORD. 



Using the sodium peroxid fusion metliod for sulphur determination, samples 

 of the Missouri loess, the Mississippi loess, the southern Iowa loess, the Wis- 

 consin drift, and the lowan drift soils were analyzed. The samples were taken at 

 three depths, to Gf in. representing the surface soil, 65 to 20 in. the subsurface 

 soil, and 20 to 40 in. the subsoil. 



There was found to be a considerable variation in the sulphate content of 

 different soils of the same type, although there was not a wide variation in the 

 total sulphur content in the surface soils in the different soil areas. The Wis- 

 consin drift was the richest in sulphur, followed in order by the lowan drift, 

 the southern Iowa loess, the Missouri loess, and the Mississippi loess. In gen- 

 eral the drift soils appeared to contain more sulphur than the loess soils, at 

 least in the surface soil. In the subsurface soil the Mississippi loess was again 

 the lowest in sulphur and the Wisconsin drift the highest, but the Missouri 

 loess was higher than the southern Iowa loess or the lowan drift soil. In the 

 subsoil the Missouri loess showed a slightly larger amount of sulphur than the 

 Wisconsin drift, while the Mississippi loess and the southern Iowa loess showed 

 less than these two and were about the same in sulphur content. The lowan 

 drift subsoil contained the smallest amount of sulphur. 



A comparison of the average amounts of sulphur and of phosphorus in these 

 soil areas showed that the sulphur content is on the average much less than that 

 of phosphorus. The results as a whole are taken to indicate that all systems of 

 permanent fertility in Iowa must include the maintaining of the sulphur supply 

 in the soil. Acid phosphate, supplying both phosphorus and sulphur, is sug- 

 gested as a logical fertilizer for these soils. 



Composition of certain fish fertilizers from the Pacific coast and the 

 fertilizer value of degreased fish scrap, J. R. Lindemuth (Anur. Fcrt.. 4^ 

 (1915), No. 11, pp. 44-50, figs. 3; Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 7 (1915), No. 7, 

 pp. 615-619, figs. 3). — Analyses of waste from salmon and other fish-canning 

 industries on the Pacific coast are reported, together with pot experiments made 

 to determine the fertilizing value of fish waste. 



The results are taken to indicate that the fish waste of the Pacific coast is 

 very high in fertilizer value, average analyses being as follows: Nitrogen 9.31 

 per cent, phosphoric acid 6.72 per cent, and oil 12.69 per cent. In pot experi- 

 ments with wheat on loam and sandy loam soils in which fish scrap was added 

 at the rate of 700 lbs. per acre it was found that in every case where scrap 

 was added there was a decided increase in crop growth and that when oil-free 

 scrap was added a still greater growth was noticeable. 



Commercial fertilizer " 1915 yearbook" (Allanta, Oa.: Walter W. Broicn, 

 1915, pp. 190, figs. 9). — This yearbook contains directions of fertilizer manu- 

 facturers, allied fertilizer trades, and cotton-seed oil mills, and si>ecial articles 

 and miscellaneous information relating to the fertilizer industry. ^Unong the 

 more important special articles included are the following : 



Chemical Control of a Fertilizer Plant, by E. H. Armstrong; "The Soil 

 Doctor " — Chemical Examination of Soils, by W. H. Maclntire ; The Search for 

 Potash Salts in the United States, by W. C. Phalen ; Soil Analysis as a Guide to 

 Fertilization, by W. B, Duryee, jr.; Contributions of the Chemist to the Fer- 

 tilizer Industry, by H. W. Wallace; Importance of Fertilizers in Crop Produc- 

 tion, by Soule; Making Fertilizers from kd Agricultural Editor's Viewpoint, by 

 E. S. Bayard ; I'roduction of Phosphate Rock in Florida during 1914, by E. H. 

 Sellards; The Western Ammoniate Market in 1914 and Effect of the War. by 

 J. B. Sardy ; The Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen, by W. S. La^ndis ; Radio- 

 active Ores and Plant Life, by H. Bastin ; Five Years of Cyauamid in Aiu»^rica. 

 by E. H. Piauke; Potash and a Home Supply, by C. P. Steinmetz ; and Coutrlk!«- 

 tions of the Chemist to the Cotton Seed Industry, by D. Wesson. 



