726 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Agricultural lime] {Off. Bui. Ohio Agr. Com., 6 (1915), No. 1, pp. 111-119).— 

 A list of brands of agricultural lime licensed for sale in Ohio from January 1 

 to June 10, 1915, is given, together with guarantied analyses. 



The fertilizing action of common salt, with special reference to its sup- 

 posed power to replace potash salts, II. G. Sodekbalm {ileddcl. Centralanst. 

 Forsoksv. Jordbruksotnrddet, Xo. 120 (1915), pp. 26, fig. 1; K. Landtbr. Akad. 

 Handl. och Tidskr., 5^ {1915), Xo. 8, pp. 673-695, fig. i).— A historical review of 

 the work along this line is given, and further experiments with sodium cblorid, 

 potassium chlorid, and potassium sulphate on sand and moor soil are reported 

 (E. S. R., 26, p. 623). 



The results showed that common salt in the presence of sufficient potash 

 usually caused a marked increase in the oats crop, except where the basal 

 fertilizers contained nitrogen as ammonium chlorid. Common salt was not able 

 to act as a substitute for potash, however, and potassium clilorid alone pro- 

 duced as good results as potassium sulphate and common salt together. The 

 action of potassium sulphate alone was less than when combined with common 

 salt. This is considered to be further proof that the beneficial effect of sodium 

 chlorid is due to the chlorin supplied ratlier than to the sodium. 



Action of free sulphur on vegetation, G. Bosinelli (Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 

 48 {1915), No. 3, pp. 175-184; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. 

 Intel, and Plant Diseases, 6 (1915), No. 7, pp. 931, 932; Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 

 34 (1915), No. 20, p. 1064; Chcm. Zentbl, 1915, I, No. 21, p. 1137).— Pot and field 

 experiments begun in 1013 with vetch, oats, mustard, corn, beans, and rape 

 to determine the effect of small additions of free sulphur on the yield are re- 

 ported. 



The results of the pot experiments showed that the yields were increased 

 in all cases where sulphur was added, but the increases were not very con- 

 siderable and not proportional to tlie quantity of sulphur used. Tlie greatest 

 increase in yield sometimes corresponded to the smallest dressings of sulphur. 

 Determinations of protein did not reveal any influence of sulphur on the 

 formation of albuminoids. 



In field experiments the sulphur gave only a very slight increase in crop 

 yield and a decrease in tlie case of mustard. No evidence was obtainetl that 

 sulpluir has any effect upon chloropliyll formation. Furtlier experiments showed 

 that sulpluir accelerates the transformation of organic nitrogen into ammonia 

 compounds, but only to a very limited extent, and the action soon ceases. The 

 usefulness of sulphur in practical farming is considered doubtful. 



The utilization of coffee pulp, etc, as manure for tropical crops, K. D. 

 Anstead (Trop. Life, 11 (1915), No. 7, pp. 124-126).— Analyses of the dry matter 

 in fresh coffee pulp showed a content of phosphoric acid 0.81 per cent, potash 

 2.38 per cent, and nitrogen 2.61 per cent. This pulp dry matter is considered 

 as good for fertilizing purposes as the best Indian cattle manure. It Is stated 

 that mixing the pulp with lime and allowing the pulp to leach in the pulp pit 

 both cause a loss of fertilizing constituents. Two methods of composting the 

 pulp are described. 



Fertilizer inspection (Maine Sta. Off. Imp. 7^ (1915), pp. 225-284).— 

 This bulletin contains the results of actual and guarantied analy.'jes of 628 

 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials collected in Maine under the 

 fertilizer-inspection law of that State during 1915. These are taken to indicate 

 that " on the whole the fertilizers of 1915 are fairly well up to the guaranty." 

 Brief suggestions regarding how best to meet the fertilizer situation in the 

 State in 1916 are also given. 



Farmers' bulletin on fertilizers (Bui. [Maine] Dept. Agr., 14 (1915), No. 4. 

 pp. ^S).— This bulletin contains the results of actual analyses made at the 



