516 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. [Vol.41 



and other basic phosphates. The continued use of superphosphate or ammonium 

 sulphate on tliese soils when unlimed was ainprotitable and the constant use 

 of ammonium sulphate even on limed soil was unprofitable. 



Chemical analyses and fertilizer experiments on indigo soils of Bihar showed 

 that the limiting fertility factor of these soils is phosphoric acid. 



A soil sui'vey in Bengal indicates that the red laterite soils of the old 

 alluvium in eastern Bengal are deficient in lime and phosphoric acid and con- 

 tain relatively large amounts of potash, which is, however, practically unavail- 

 able imtil lime has been added. The new alluvial soils are more productive 

 than the lateritic soils and are rich in total potasli, but relatively deficient in 

 pliosplioric acid. 



Investigational work with fertilizers, F. T. Shutt {Ca}W(la Expt. Farms 

 Rpt. 1918, pp. 17, 18). — Plat experiments begun in 1915 with truck crops, grain, 

 and hay at five of the experimental farms are reported. 



" Prominent features noted in the results from the individual stations include 

 the very decided influence of pliosphoric acid at Charlottetown, v/here it proved 

 the limiting fertilizer factor. By increasing the quantity of phosphatic ferti- 

 lizer applied, the profitable use of larger nitrogenous applications was per- 

 mitted, whereas, with inadequate phosphoric acid, an increa.se in the amount 

 of nitrogen proved ineffective. On the light, sandy loam soil at Kentville, the 

 plats with manure and fertilizers produced yields superior to those from either 

 manure or fertilizers alone. At all the stations the combinations of manure and 

 fertilizers ranked liighly and took highest place in the averages. At Frederic- 

 ton, the heaviest fertilizer applications were found both most productive and 

 most profitable." 



" The average profit, for the three years, from the plats receiving both 

 manure and fertilizers was over $30 per acre, while the average profits from 

 fertilizers alone during the same period was slightly over $15 per acre." 



Further experiments at the five stations proved .sodium nitrate to be superior 

 to ammonium sulphate as a source of nitrogen, and at four of the stations 

 showed acid phosphate to be superior to basic slag or bone meal. Calcium 

 nitrate was found to be as effective as sodium nitrate or ammonium sulphate 

 as a source of nitrogen. 



Expei'iments with a chemically treated peat from England showed no evi- 

 dence of any appreciable fertilizing value. 



The synthesis of ammonia at high temperatures, III, E. B. Maxted {.Jour. 

 CJiem. Soc. [London], 115 (1919), No. 676, pp. 113-119, fig. 1; abs. in Jour. Soc. 

 Chem. Indvs., 38 {1919), No. 7, p. 219A; Sci. Ab.s., Sect. A—Plujx., 22 {1919), No. 

 258, p. 2P6).— Previous results (E. S. R., 39. p. 817) were confirmed in the ex- 

 periments here reported, which were made with larger arcs than were used 

 in the earlier experiments. It was found that rapid flow of gas through the 

 apparatus caused a considerable decrease in the percentage of ammonia pro- 

 duced. The results showed that there was direct synthesis of tlie ammonia 

 and indicate that oxygen plays no part in the process. 



Sodammoniuin sulphate. A new fertilizer. The utilization of niter cake 

 in the fixation of ammonia, H. M. Dawson {Jour. Soc. Chem. Indii-^., 38 {1919), 

 No. 8, pp. 98T-1MT, fig. 1). — The chemistry involved in the process of manu- 

 facture of sodammonium sulphate is discussed, in which niter cake is used for 

 the absorption of ammonia as a substitute for sulphuric acid. 



Preliminary pot experiments with mustard sliowed that the fertilizing value 

 of sodammonium sulphate, when added to a dressing of calcium carbonate and 

 potassium phosphate, is approximately the same as that of ammonium sulphate 

 containing the same amount of nitrogen. 



