126 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Nitrogenous fertilizers obtainable in the United States, J. W. Turrentine 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 37, pp. 12). — Statistics of procUicliou and consumption for 

 fertilizing purposes of sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, synthetic nitrogen 

 compounds (calcium cyanamid and nitrate), tankage, and dried blood are sum- 

 marized and discussed. 



It is estimated that the use of these materials in fertilizers in the United 

 States during 1912 was approximately as follows: Ammonium sulphate (pro- 

 duction in United States 155,000 tons, imports 60,000 tons) 215.000 tons; sodium 

 nitrate (about 13 per cent of the imports, 518,613 tons) 70,000 tons; calcium 

 cyanamid 11,264 tons ; tankage 99,324 tons ; dried blood 37,710 tons ; fish scrap 

 70,000 tons. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 29, p. 517). 



Figures are given which indicate that less than one-sixth of the recoverable 

 ammonium sulphate lost in beehive coke ovens in the United States is now 

 saved. Estimates by the Bureau of Animal Industry indicate that if all the 

 slaughterhouse wastes were saved the possible production of tankage would be 

 222.535, of dried blood 79,794 tons. 



The replacement of potash in certain f eldspathic rocks by substances used 

 as fertilizers, G. Andr:^ (Compt. Ren4. Acad, Sci. [Paris'\, 157 {1913), No. 19, 

 pp. 856-858; ahs. in Rev. Set. [Paris], 51 (1913), II, No. 21, p. 668).— The results 

 reported by the author show the important role played by the phenomena of 

 double decomposition which occurs when soluble fertilizing materials are added 

 to the soil. 



The replacement of potash by soda was especially marked when microcline 

 was mixed with sea salt or with sodium nitrate, the amount of potash replaced 

 being almost identical in the two cases. This replacement explains the favor- 

 able action of salt when used as a fertilizer. Sodium nitrate when applied to 

 the soil is thus a means of furnishing a certain amount of potash to plants as 

 a result of double decomposition in contact with particles of feldspar. Am- 

 monium sulphate is also particularly active in replacing potash. 



Investigations on the composition of Thomas slag, M. Popp (Osterr. Chem. 

 Ztg., 16 {1913), No. 21, pp. 291, 292). — Four different crystalline forms occurring 

 in Thomas slag are described and their varying solubility in citric acid is dis- 

 cussed. Certain rhomboidal blue crystals occuring in the slag were found to be 

 95 per cent soluble in citric acid, while the brown columnar crystals found were 

 only 41 per cent soluble. 



In ground slag it was found that the finest particles had the highest per- 

 centage of phosphoric acid, silicic acid, and lime, and the lowest percentage 

 of iron. Separating the coarser particles by means of an electromagnet it w^as 

 found that the nonmagnetic part was almost identical in composition with the 

 fine meal. While the phosphoric acid of the coarse particles, as a whole, was 

 13 per cent soluble, that of the magnetic particles was 20 per cent soluble. 



A method of electro-dialysis was tried by which it was possible to separate 

 the particles into groups corresponding to their solubility in citric acid. 



Investigations on the action of steamed and unsteamed bone as a phos- 

 phatic fertilizer in comparison with superphosphate and Thomas slag as 

 well as on the importance of grinding unsteamed bone, B. Schulze (Land. 

 Vers. Stat., 83 {1913), No. 1-2, pp. 101-180). — In a series of pot experiments it 

 was found that the phosphoric acid of Thomas slag soluble in citric acid was 

 about 90 per cent as effective as the water soluble phosphoric acid of super- 

 phosphate the first year. Its utilization by plants was about 81 per cent of 

 that of water soluble phosphoric acid. The after effects, however, in a measure 

 compensated for the poor results the first year. 



The effect of the phosphoric acid of bone meal during the first year was 

 barely half that of superphosphate. In the course of three years the average 



