SOILS FERTILIZERS. 125 



(winter wheat, rye, and oats or summer barley). The soil used in the experi- 

 ments was a friable loam. 



Detailed data for yield and value of the crops and the nitrogen content of 

 the soil at different periods of the experiments are summarized. These indi- 

 cate little or no decline of the nitrogen supply of the soil or of yield with bare 

 fallow as compared with the manure and clover rotations. 



The addition of cellulose to the soil as a source of energy increased the 

 activity of bacteria which convert nitrates into albuminoid substances, and thus 

 decreased the growth of crops. As soon as the cellulose was consumed, how- 

 ever, no further transformation of nitrates occurred and the plants began to 

 make normal growth. The author concludes from this that nitrates are essen- 

 tial to plant growth in natural soils. 



Soil hyg-iene and green manuring-, F. Arndt (Mitt. Okonom. Gcsell. Sachsen, 

 1912-13, pp. 20-70). — The author discusses soil moisture regulation and physical 

 and chemical harmony in soils, and reports the results of his experiments made 

 to demonstrate the value of legumes for green manuring. 



Report of the agriculturist, E. F. Gaskill (Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1012, 

 pt. 1, pp. 21-34)' — This is a report of progress in fertilizer experiments follow- 

 ing the same general lines as in previous years, including plat and pot tests 

 (E. S. R.. 28, p. 325^. 



The manag-ement of solid and liquid manures, M. Ringelmann (Am&nage- 

 ment dcs Fumiers et des Purins. Paris, 1013, pp. 187, figs. 103; rev. in Rev. 

 Sci. [Paris], 51 (1913), II, No. 7, p. 210).— This book deals very fully with the 

 methods, structures, and appliances emploj^ed in the preservation and handling 

 of farm manures, more especially liquid manures. The subject Is considered 

 from the sanitary standpoint as well as from that of practical utilization of the 

 manures on the farm. Methods and appliances for distributing the manures 

 and manure liquors receive particular attention. 



Enrichment of farmyard manure by cake feeding*, A. D. Hall (Jour. Bd. 

 Agr. [London'], 20 (1913), No. 8, pp. 665-672).— On the basis mainly of experi- 

 ments made at Rothamsted, but also from a study of farm accounts, the author 

 concludes that the addition of oil cake to the feed of cattle enriches the manure 

 in quickly available fertilizing constituents, but does not greatly increase its 

 ultimate effect. He is of the opinion that the value of the practice of using 

 cake is overestimated, particularly in case of light soils. 



Comparative tests of lime nitrogen, nitrogen lime, sodium nitrate, and 

 ammonium sulphate on sandy and upland moor soils, B. Tacke and F. Brune 

 (Landw. Vers. Stat., S3 (1013), No. 1-2, pp. 1-100).— Vol experiments with dif- 

 ferent crops under a variety of conditions gave results indicating that the lime 

 nitrogen prepared by the Frank and Caro process and nitrogen lime prepared 

 by the Polzenius process are equally effective on sandy soils, but that the nitro- 

 gen lime is only about 81 per cent as effective as that of lime nitrogen on moor 

 soils. The experiments indicated that neither product should be applied at the 

 same time as the seed, as if applied at this time the fertilizing effect is only 44 

 per cent of that of sodium nitrate. Applied as a top-dressing the materials are 

 from 66 to 67 per cent as effective as sodium nitrate in the case of rye and 

 from 80 to 82 per cent as effective in the case of oats and potatoes. The best 

 results were always obtained when the materials were applied a short time be- 

 fore seeding, when they were on the average 89 per cent as effective as sodium 

 nitrate. The utilization of the nitrogen by plants was only 54 per cent of that 

 of sodium nitrate on sandy soils and 67 per cent on moor soils. 



The lime-nitrogen industry, E. O. Siebneb (Chcm. Ztg., 37 (1013), Nos. 106, 

 pp. 1057, 1058: 108, pp. 1073-1075).— This is a brief review of the present status 

 of the industry. 



