820 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The use of dynamite in the improvement of heavy clay soils, L. E. Call 

 and R. I. Theockmorton (Kansas Sta. Bui. 209 (1915), pp. 3Jf, figs. 8). — A series 

 of experiments to determine the effect of dynamiting on tlie j'ield of different 

 field crops, on the physical condition, moisture and bacterial content, and 

 nitrifying powers of the soil, on the leaching of salts in alkali soil, and on the 

 growth and vitality of fruit trees is reported. From one-half to one stick of 

 dynamite was placed from 2i to 3 ft. deep and from 15 to 20 ft. apart. AVhile 

 some benefits from dynamiting were observed in some cases, it was found that 

 " in no instance was there improvement sufficient to pay the expense of 

 dynamiting." The authors conclude that " heavy plastic clay soils will seldom, 

 if ever, be found dry enough under field conditions in humid climates to be 

 shattered or cracked by explosions of dynamite, and that the physical condition 

 of such soils will usually be injured rather than benefited by dynamiting." 



The box method of testing manurial requirem^ents of soils, G. de S. 

 Baylis (Jour. Agr. [New Zeal.], 11 (1915), No. 2, pp. 97-105, figs. 5).— A box 

 culture method for testing the value of different fertilizer mixtures and for 

 determining incidentally the factor or factors limiting the productiveness of a 

 soil is described. 



Liquid manure (Dcpt. Agr. and Tech. Imtr. Ireland Jour., 16 (1915), No. 1, 

 pp. 26-32. pi. 1, figs. 3). — Experiments on hay lands to determine the value of 

 liquid manure applied at the rate of 16 tons per acre, as compared with barn- 

 yard manure applied at the same rate, and a complete artificial mixed fertilizer 

 applied at the rate of 500 lbs. per acre, showed that the three manures pro- 

 duced very similar result.*?, but on the average slightly in favor of the li«iuid 

 manure. Methods of collection, storage, and distribution of liquid manure are 

 briefly described. 



The action of the nitrogen of sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, and 

 lime nitrogen, S. Hebke (Ki^Mct Kihlcm., 18 (1915), No. 2, pp. 266-306).— 

 Ten years' pot-culture experiments with barley, mustard, oats, and popples on 

 different soils to determine the relative values of sodium nitrate, ammonium 

 sulphate, and lime nitrogen as sources of nitrogen are reported. 



The kind of soil had a marked influence on the action of lime nitrogen. It had 

 the most favorable action on loam soils rich in lime and humus, where it 

 equaled ammonium sulphate in effectiveness. On sand soils rich in lime but poor 

 in humus and on loam soils rich in hunuis but poor in lime, the lime nitrogen had 

 a less favorable action than the other two fertilizers. Considering the effect of 

 sodium nitrate as 100, in the first case the effect of ammonium sulphate was 92 

 and of lime nitrogen 62, and in the second case that of ammonium sulphate was 

 84 and of lime nitrogen 61. Lime nitrogen was in general favorable to the 

 same plants as was ammonium sulphate, although its action was usually less 

 marked. The final average results with all the crops .-md all the soil types 

 showed that with sodium nitrate taken at 100, ammoniiBll lulphate stood at 91 

 and lime nitrogen at 70. 



The relative action of the nitrogen of lime nitrogen and of sodium nitrate, 

 J. GyariAs (Kisfrlct. Kozlcm., 18 (1915), No. 2. pp. 307-125) .—Throi^ years' 

 field experiments comparing the fertilizing action of sodium nitrate and lime 

 nitrogen when used under winter rye, barley, and potatoes on meadow, and as 

 a top-dressing for winter-seeded crops, showed that on the average, taking the 

 effectiveness of sodium nitrate as 100, that of lime nitrogen was 66. No rela- 

 tion was observed between the kind of soil and the fertilizing action of lime 

 nitrogen, except that on an excessively damp, acid meadow soil the lime nitro- 

 gen had little effect and in some cases Mas injurious. 



Cause of the red coloration sometimes observed on decomposing Thomas 

 slag with sulphuric acid, H. Dixz (Jour. Prakt. Chcm., n. scr., 91 (1915), No. 



