722 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



nitrogen content, and this was more marked the greater the concentration of 

 formalin solution used. It is concluded that a marked decrease in the value of 

 liquid manure results from the addition of formalin. 



Action of chemical fertilizers on mountainous prairies, C. Dusserbe (Ann. 

 Agr. Suisse, IS (1911), No. 1, pp. 7, 8). — Two years' experiments with grain and 

 leguminous crops on mountain prairie soils which are gravelly and relatively 

 deficient in lime are reported. 



The best results were obtained with a mixture supplying phosphoric acid 

 and potash, while about the same results were obtained where phosphoric acid 

 alone was added and where phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen were added, 

 slightly poorer results being obtained in the latter case. It is concluded that 

 the use of Thomas slag and 30 per cent potash salts is profitable on these soils. 

 Nitrogenous fertilizers such as sodium nitrate or ammonium sulphate are bene- 

 ficial if applied in moderate amounts. 



Experiments on the action of different fertilizers manufactured from peat, 

 Tacke (2Iitt. Ver. Ford. MoorkuU. Dcut. Reiche, 36 (1918), No. 22, pp. 360- 

 373). — Pot culture experiments with oats on an unproductive sand soil to which 

 a specially preparetl moor soil fertilizer and a peat silica fertilizer were added 

 at the rate of about 100 kg. of nitrogen per hectare (89 lbs. per acre) are 

 reported. 



The growth of oats in both cases was very poor, but was materially im- 

 proved by an addition of sodium nitrate, showing the need of the soil for 

 nitrogen. The action of the humus fertilizers was very weak, and the inci-ease 

 in crop attributed to them was very small. Liming had little effect in further- 

 ing their action, the increase in the case of the peat silica fertilizer being at- 

 tributed to a decrease in assimilation of silica rather than an increase in 

 nitrogen assimilation due to liming. 



Further experiments are reported with oats on an unproductive heather sand 

 soil to which lowland moor soil untreated and treated with hydrochloric acid 

 was added. The soil used was found to be in need of nitrogen. Neither the 

 natural moor soil nor the treated moor soil appeared to function as an active 

 source of nitrogen for the crop. It is concluded that the question of the so- 

 called humus fertilizer needs further investigation before practical results 

 may be expected. 



Investigations on the absorptive power of peat litter for nitrogen in the 

 form of liquid manure or ammonia, H. Minssen (Mitt. Ver. Ford. MoorkuU. 

 Deut. Reiche, 37 (1919), Nos. 6, pp. 63-72; 7, pp. 197-206; 8, pp. 217-223).— 

 Laboratory experiments are reported in which it was found that slightly de- 

 composed new sphagnum peat is especially adapted for the conservation of 

 liquid animal excrement on account of its extraordinary high absorptive power 

 for liquids and its marked power for combining physically and chemically 

 with ammonia. The power of combining chemically with annnonia was found 

 to depend on a high content of so-called humus acids. Considerable quantities 

 of nitrogen were physically absorbed by peat kept moist, well packed, and pro- 

 tected from air and sun. The chemically combined nitrogen was found in 

 different forms but mostly in what were considered to be ammonium humates, 

 which are not very resistant to the action of high temperatures or strong acids 

 or alkalis. Other nitrogen compounds were found to be practically insoluble. 

 It was also found that peat, on account of its acid nature, was capable of taking 

 up ammonia out of the air and combining with it as permanently as out of 

 solutions. Peat saturated with ammonia was found to be useful as a fertilizer 

 and to give excellent results in pot exi>eriments with sandy soil and barley as 

 compared with .sodium nitrate. As much nitrogen was absorbed chemically 

 from urine as from ammonia. 



