SOILS FERTILIZERS. 619 



in the early stages, led to the conclusion " that one of the beneficial effects of 

 superphosphate on wheat (and probably other agricultural plants) under 

 semiarid conditions is that it causes the young plant to send its roots quickly 

 into the subsoil, thereby increasing not only its moisture absorbing capacity, but 

 also increasing very greatly the volume of soil from which it can draw its 

 moisture supplj\" 



Experiments with steamed bone meal, J. Gyakfas (Kisdrlet. Kozlem., 18 

 (1915), No. Jf, pp. 699-717). — This gives results of experiments conducted at 

 the agricultural experiment station at Magyar Ovar, Hungary, from 1910 to 1913, 

 comparing superphosphate with Thomas slag meal and steamed bone meal. Tak- 

 ing the results with superphosphate as 100, the results with the other two (which 

 gave similar results) were as follows: With winter wheat, straw 94, gi'ain 70.5; 

 with winter rye, straw 58, grain 62 ; with potatoes, 75 ; and with stock beets, 88. 



Kock phosphate in New Zealand: Its value to the Dominion, B. C. Aston 

 (New Zeal. Dept. Agr., Indus., and Com. Bid. 54, n. ser. (1915), pp. 24, figs. 9). — 

 This pamphlet discusses in a general way the occurrence, distribution, and value 

 of phosphates in New Zealand. 



Potash, T. E. Keitt and O. J. King (South Carolina Sta. Bid. 182 (1915), 

 pp. 3-16). — This bulletin deals vrith the importance of the proper conservation 

 and use of natural and domestic sources of potash in view of the situation 

 caused by the European war. Attention is called to the value for this purpose 

 of tobacco stems and stalks, animal manures, wood ashes, crop residues and 

 other plant materials, and mucks, and chemical analyses of these materials 

 made at the station and obtained from various other sources are reported. The 

 liberation of soil potash by the proper use of sodium nitrate, organic matter, 

 and lime is also discussed. 



With reference to soil and crop requirements for potash, work at the different 

 substations in the State is reviewed, which shows " that the soils of the Coastal 

 Plain section of the State require more potash than those of the Piedmont 

 region; also, that better results are obtained where the application is made to 

 cotton. . . . There is only a small profit from applying potash to grain 

 crops at the prices that formerly prevailed, and of the ordinary field crops 

 cotton is the one that will return the greatest value in increased production. 

 ... At the Pee Dee Station the corn yield was actually less where potash 

 was applied. . . . The Clemson experiments show identically the same 

 yield for three years without potash as with potash. Where twice the normal 

 quantity of potash was used the yield was lower than where no potash 

 was used." 



Fertilizer experiments with common salt and potash salts, P. Bolin 

 (Meddel. Centralanst. Forsoksv. Jordbruksomrddet, No. 94 (1914), PP- 15). — 

 Fertilizer experiments with beets and turnips on a variety of soils to deter- 

 mine the extent to which common salt may be used as a substitute for potash 

 salts are reported. Common salt was used at the rate of 480 kg. per hectare 

 (427.2 lbs. per acre) and a 37 per cent potash salt at the rate of 200 kg. per 

 hectare. 



The two salts gave practically the same results with sugar beets, although 

 neither materially increased the yield. Turnips showed a smaller potash re- 

 quirement than sugar beets. Where common salt was used in a complete fer- 

 tilizer mixture, increases in crop yields were obtained. The conclusion is 

 reached that 37 per cent potash salts may often be replaced by common salt 

 for fodder roots, beets especially. It is also concluded that increased yields 

 produced by additions of potash salts are not due solely to the fact that potas- 

 sium is an essential nutritive element. 



