424 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 41 



Farm manure, H. M. Nagant (Min. Agr. Prov. Quebec Bill. 53 (1918), pp. 29, 

 figs. 8). — This bulletin deals with the composition, fertilizing value, and con- 

 servation of barnyard manure, with special reference to conditions in the 

 Province of Quebec. The use of manure pits is specially discussed. 



The world's supply of nitrogenous fertilizers, G. W. Anderson (Chem. Neivs, 

 119 (1919), No. 3090, pp. 6, 7).— This is a review of the nitrogen resources of 

 the world, from which it is concluded that the production of nitrogenous 

 products in Germany luis been greatly promoted during the war and that in 

 consequence a strong competition may be expected. Data are rejiorted to show 

 that there is a considerable excess of production over the probable consumption 

 based on prewar estimates. 



" Although the cost of production has gone up considerably, German manu- 

 facturers were able to write-off their plant during the war, and thus have 

 the great advantage of low capital costs. This, together with the present 

 favorable rate of exchange for exports, places the German trader in an ad- 

 vantageous position." 



War-time production of nitrogen compounds in Germany, Bueb {Jour. 

 Gasheleucht., 62 {1919). pp. 2, S; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 38 {1919), No. 

 7, pp. 219 A, 220 A). — It is stated that the prewar production of niti'ogen com- 

 pounds in Germany was in excess of the requirements, but production was 

 insufficient after war began and imports of Chilean nitrate ceased. Am- 

 monia from coal distillation furnished about one-third of the amount required. 

 New plants for the production of cyanamid were started but not completed, 

 and effort was concentrated on the development of existing plants. The 

 synthesis of ammonia by the Haber process was found to be the most economical 

 in labor and fuel, and the process was put into successful operation at two 

 places. The catalytic process for producing ammonia was widely used, the 

 end product being sodium nitrate. As a result of the exigencies of war the 

 supply of nitrogen fertilizers was cut down one-half. It is anticipated that 

 under normal peace conditions synthetic products in combination with potash 

 will suffice to make Gemany independent of imported nitrogen compounds. 



Comparative fertilizer experiments with new nitrogenous fertilizers, 

 ScHNEiDEWiND {Bl. Ziickerrubenbau, 26 {1919), No. 8-4, pp. 28, 29). — Com- 

 parative top-dressing experiments with sugar beets on a loess loam soil rich 

 in organic matter are reported, in which it was found that potash ammonium 

 nitrate gave as good results as sodium nitrate when used in an equal amount, 

 while ammonium nitrate gave better results than ammonium sulphate but not 

 so good results as sodium nitrate. The differences were not large. Ammonium 

 ehlorid gave as good results as ammonium sulphate. 



Further experiments in which lime nitrogen was added before planting, 

 added one-half as top-dressing and one-half drilled in after planting, and added 

 one-half as top dressing and one-half broadcast after planting, showed that the 

 addition before planting yielded the best results. 



Comparative test of several nitrogenous fertilizers, Bachelier {Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Agr. France, 5 {1919), No. 5, pp. 16.'f-170; abs. in Chem. Abs., IS 

 {1919), No. 10. p. 1115). — Ammonium nitrate was compared with ammonium 

 sulphate and sodium nitrate in field experiments with sugar beets. As good 

 results per unit of nitrogen were obtained with the ammonium nitrate as with 

 the other substances used. 



Field experiments with nitrate of ammonia, .7. IIendeick {Joiir. Soc. Chem. 

 Indus., 37 {1918), No. 8, pp. 1 /,6 R-IJ, 8 R).— Field experiments with hay and oats 

 on several different soils, conducted by the North of Scotland Agricultural 

 College to compare ammonium nitrate with sodium nitrate, ammonium sul- 



