1919] AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 219 



the conversion of nitrogen into cyanids, us set fortti in tlie Buclier process." 

 Processes for oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid are also discussed. It is 

 stated that at the present time the first three of the metliods named " are suc- 

 cessfully operated on a commercial basis," but that the Bucher process has 

 scarcely passed beyond the experimental stage. 



" During the past five years rapid progress has been made in the fixation of 

 atmospheric nitrogen, especially by the; cyanamid process and by the direct 

 synthesis of ammonia. As a result of this advance, greatly stimulated by the 

 war, nearly one-third of the nitrogen used by the Allies for military explosives 

 in the autumn of 1918 was obtained fi'om the atmosphere." 



The annual production capacity of the world for synthetic nitrogen com- 

 pounds is given as 75,000 tons in 1914 and 389,000 tons in 1918. It is estimated 

 at 467,000 tons for 1919. The production in the United States is given as 

 nothing in 1914, 55,000 tons in 1918, and estimated at 100,000 tons in 1919, 

 mainly in form of cyanamid (46,000 tons in 1918 and 91,000 tons in 1919). 



A very full classified bibliography of the subject is given. 



Production of ammonia from lime nitrogen, and the time yield under 

 various conditions, W. Grahmann {Ztschr. Elcltrochein., 2/f (I'JIS). No. 23-24, 

 pp. 385Sdl, figs. 2; ahs. in Jour. Chcm. Soc. [London'], 116 (lOli)), No. 677, II, 

 pp. 105, 106). — The rate of production of ammonia from boiling mixtures of 

 lime nitrogen and water, lime nitrogen and S(jdiuni hydroxid or carbonate of 

 various strengths, and lime nitrogen and potassium hydroxid or carbonate of 

 varying strengths was determined. 



Tlie rate of decomposition of calcium cyanamid in water was very slow in 

 all concentrations at the boiling point and atmospheric pressure. Alkali hy- 

 droxids or carbonates accelerated the reaction. Under a pressure of 30 atmos- 

 pheres and a temperature of 150° C. the decomposition was rapid even without 

 the addition of alkali until 75 per cent of the cyanamid was decomposed, after 

 which the rate of deconipcisition greatly declined. 



America's advance in potash, production, W. C. Ebaugh (/?'wi. ScL Lahs. 

 Dcnifion Univ., ID {191D), Art. 2, pp. 33-6-',, ficjs. 2).— It is stated that the pro- 

 duction of potash in the United States increased from practically nothing in 

 1914 to 52,135 tons of actual potash in 1918. The estimated production capacity 

 of American potash plants is given as 100,000 tons annually, or 40 per cent of 

 the normal consumption. The various domestic sources of potash are briefly 

 described. 



Trade and fraud in commercial fertilizers, A. Pompeu do Amaral (Bol. Ayr. 

 [Sao Paulo], 19. ser., No. 5-7 (1918), pp. Ji!l2-50U ) .—This article discusses briefly 

 the various sources and kinds of commercial fertilizing materials, the valuation 

 of fertilizers, and the falsiflcations to which they are subject. It recommends 

 especially to coffee planters the cooperative buying of fertilizers on guaranty of 

 quality, appealing to the Agronomic Institute of Sao Paulo in case of disjmte. 



Report of analyses of samples of commercial fertilizers collected by the 

 commissioner of agriculture during 1918 (New York State Sta. Bui. 452 

 {1918} pp. 203-253) .—This, reports tlie results of the actual and guarantied 

 analysis of official samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials collected dur- 

 ing 1918. 



AGRICULTUKAL BOTANY. 



The flora of the American Virgin Islands, N. L. BRrrroN (Brooklini Bot. 

 Gard. Mem., 1 {1918), pp. 19-118, fig. i).— Lists comprising 890 Spermatophyta 

 and 41 Pteridophyta are thought to be practically complete. Lists including 46 

 Bryophyta and 75 lichens are thought to be less complete. Endemic plants 

 comprise only about 2.6 per cent of the native flora. 



