26 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



superphosphate gave higher gross returns from combined cropping and grazing, 

 but the increase was not sufficient to pay for the extra fertilizer. 



Phosphatic manures, A. J. Perkins (Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Atist., 18 (1914), 

 No. 5, pp. J,01-Itl2; 18 (1915), No. 6, pp. 503-512).— This is a lecture based on the 

 experimental results noted above. 



A note on the formation of tricalcium phosphate on mixing g^round lime- 

 stone with acid phosphate, R. N. Bbackett and B. Freeman (Jour. Indus, ami 

 Enyin. Cficni., 7 (1!>15), Xo. 7, p. 620). — Experiments are briefly reported which 

 show that tricalcium phosphate is producetl on mixing acid phosphate and 

 ground limestone in the proportions of 14, 15.5. 17. and 10 lb.s. of acid phos- 

 phate to 6, 4.5, 3, and 10 lbs., respectively, of ground limestone. The formation 

 of tricalcium phosphate began immediately on mixing, but increased slightly on 

 standing, which is taken to indicate that the amount formed is a function of 

 both time and temperature. It is considered necessary, therefore, that the 

 formation of insoluble phosphate in such mixtures be taken account of by 

 niaiiufiicfnn'rs in ni:ikiiig f:u;irantios. 



Potash in the Texas Permian. .1. A. Udoen (Bui. I'niv. Tex., Xo. 17 (J915), 

 pp. 50, pl.t. 4)- — This bulletin reports the discovery of a re<J p<:itash-bearing salt 

 in three wells in western Texas. One of the two most Important wells is in Potter 

 County, 23 miles northwe.st of Amarillo, and the other about 3t> miles away in 

 Itandall County. 16 miles from Amarillo. In the Potter County well the highest 

 amount of potash found. expres.sed as percentage of the soluble portion, was 9.23 

 per cent, taken at a <l»'pth of from 875 to 92.') ft. In the Randall C<ninty well the 

 highest amount of potash found was 10.5 per cent, from a depth of 1.7(X) ft. It la 

 believed " that the prol)l('matic existence of utillzable potash in a.ssociatlon with 

 the Permian salt beds in the southwest Is. by these finds, rendere<l suflldently 

 pr(>bal)le to warrant the beginning of exid oration.*!. . . . The data presente<l 

 show that extensive .salt be<ls underlie not only the greater part of the Pan- 

 handle, but that they extend south of Upton County and west into New 

 Mexico. . . . From the explorations already made, it is evident that tests .should 

 extend to the greatest depth at which it may be consldere<l profitable to work, 

 say '-'.(KMi ft." 



Seaweed as a source of potash for agriculture, A. A. Moffatt {TratiJ*. 

 HiflhUuid and Ayr. Soc. Scot., 5. sir., 27 (1915). pp. 281-286). — In a discus.sion 

 of the fertilizing value of seaweed from the coasts of Ireland and Scotland it is 

 stated that the fresh seaweed contains about 80 per cent water. Draining and 

 air-drying reduce the water content to about 10 per cent. Three metho<ls of 

 treatment of seaweed to realize its value as a potash fertilizer are describe*!, 

 which involve burning at a great heat to produce kelp, burning to a loost> ash. 

 and carbonizing, followed by .'special treatment to extract the ix»tash com|>ounds. 

 While llie methods involving reduction to kelp and carbonizing show jirosixx'ts 

 for future development, it is thought that for the pn^ent burning the s««awee<l 

 to a loose asli is the most i>riH-ti<'jiMe method of usinir it. 



Experiments with potash waste liquor lime (Endlaugenkalk). K. Hasel- 

 KOFF and O. Schmidt (Landio. Jahrb., 47 (t914). No. 3. pp. 325-^37).— Pot 

 culture and field experiments to determine the fertilizing value of a mixture 

 of lime and waste liquor fnun potash Industries are reported. Two different 

 mixtures were used, the first containing ,37.8 per cent of lime, 1.80 per cent of 

 magnesia, 1.87 i^er cent of potash. 0.74 yn^r (X»nt of sodium. 4.72 jx^r cent of 

 chlorin. and 1.97 per cent of suli>burle acid, and the second containing 4fi.72 

 per cent of lime. (>.23 per cent of magnesl.i. 1.22 |>er cent of j^otasb. 0.9."i i>«t 

 cent of sodium, 9.7r> per cent of chlorin. and 1..35 per ci^nt of stilphurle acid. 



It was fomid In pot ex|)erlments that the yield of garden beans on n snnd 

 soil was decreased. On a loam si)ll the total yield of horse beans whs de- 



