630 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



It was found that " the composition of bracken depends mainly upon the age 

 of the fronds, and, to a less extent, on varying soil and climatic conditions. 

 The ash in the dry matter amounts to about 9 per cent, and contains 55 per 

 cent of potash in the young fronds, and to about 6 per cent and 40 per cent, 

 respectively, in the mature fronds. The rate of fall varies according to soil and 

 climatic conditions. 



'• The potash in the ash is present largely as the sulphate and the chlorid 

 of potassium. Some carbonate is also present. Over 90 per cent of the total 

 potash, in carefully prepared ash, is soluble in water. By extracting the dry 

 matter with water, more than 90 per cent of the total potash in the form of 

 neutral salts is dissolved out, a fact which will largely account for the very low 

 potash content of ash made from dead braclfen, cut in the winter months after 

 exposure to the leaching action of rain. Age of the plant does not affect the 

 solubility of the potash. 



" The caustic nature of the ash can be destroyed by the addition, in a fine state 

 of division, of acid salts such as superphosphate of lime, or niter cake (sodium 

 hydrogen sulphate). In the making of the ash, too large a fire should not be 

 kept burning, otherwise a very high temperature may be attained, which might 

 cause some loss by volatilization of potassium in the form of the chlorid, and 

 also fusion of the ash into solid lumps. The best time to cut the bracken to 

 secure the greatest yield of potash is when the fronds have reached their maxi- 

 mum growth, a development indicated by the withering of some of the small 

 leaves and when the green color of the stem begins to change. The date will 

 vary according to season and local conditions. Under the best conditions of 

 cutting, drying, and burning, it requires from 4 to about 8 acres — according to 

 the density of growth and height of the fronds — of fully stocked bracken laud 

 to yield 1 ton of ash." 



Commercial fertilizers, E. G. Peout^x, O. S. Roberts, R. O. Bitlek, S. F. 

 Thornton, and O. W. Ford {Indiana Sta. liul. 229 {1919), pp. 3-94, fiffS- -i)-— 

 This bulletin presents the results of analyses and valuations of 1,285 samples of 

 fertilizers and fertilizing materials collected for inspection in Indiana dur- 

 ing 1918. 



It was found that 69.1 per cent of the samples were equal to the guaranty in 

 every particular, and that 88.9 per cent were equal to the value of the guaranty. 

 The former figure is the highest yet attained in the State while the latter is 

 slightly lower than that of the previous year. 



" The largest number of samples ha\'lng a deficiency of 10 per cent or more 

 of guaranty were in potash, there being 130 inspection samples found deficient 

 in potash, or more than the deficiencies in nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, 

 and total phosphoric acid combined. ... In nitrogen 28 samples were deficient 

 10 per cent or more of the guaranty; in available phosphoric acid, 42 samples; 

 and in total phosphoric acid, 21 samples." 



Dig'est and copy of fertilizer law {Neio Jersey Stas. Circ. lOS {1919), pp. 

 8).— This Is a revision of Circular 9 of the station (E. S. R., 28, p. 326) in- 

 cluding the amendments to the law passed in 1919. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



[Beport of the investigation and work in plant physiolog'y], R. P. Hibbaru 

 {Michigan Sta. Rpt. 1918, pp. 271-273). — A brief outline is given of the work 

 carried on in the department of plant physiologj', the principal investigation 

 being a continuation of that previously reported (E. S. R., 39, p. 419). An ac- 

 count is given of investigations of the soil solution, this work having been con- 



