SOILS FERTILIZERS. 127 



effect of the phosphoric acid of bone meal was about 60 per cent of that of 

 water soluble phosphoric acid. The phosi)horic acid of steamed bone meal was 

 somewhat more effective than that of unsteamed bone; the results, however, 

 varied wirh the plants grown. The difference in effect on cereals and on such 

 crops as mustard, buckwheat, and spurry was especially marked. In no case, 

 however, did the bone meal approximate in fertilizing efficiency the water solu- 

 ble or citric acid soluble phosphoric acid. 



Fine grinding of the unsteamed bone appreciably increased the fertilizing 

 efficiency of the phosiihorle acid. 



The use of raw phosphate and siliceous lime as fertilizers, T. Pfeiffer 

 (ZentU. Kunstdunger Indiii^., 18 {1913), Nos. 21, pp. 4-57, 458; 22, pp. 473, W)-— 

 Reviewing work by others the author concludes that raw phos-phates may be 

 profitably substituted for Thomas slag under certain circumstances, as, for 

 example, on acid peaty soils, but that the conditions under which they are 

 effective need to be carefully studied. The work of Immendorff and others 

 shows that siliceous lime may be applied to soils without injury and even with 

 benefit under certain conditions. 



Agricultural* value of carbonate of lime recovered from causticizing plant, 

 J. Hendrick (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1912, p. 741)- — This material is de- 

 scribed and field experiments with it are reported which showed that it com- 

 pared favorably with other forms of lime as a fertilizer. 



The action of quicklime on the soil, H. B. Hutchinson (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. 

 Adv. Sci., 1912, p. 740). — Observations are reported which show that the addi- 

 tion of small quantities of quicklime to field and garden soils stimulates gen- 

 eral bacterial growth, but that large quantities cause an Initial depression in 

 the numbers of bacteria, the destruction of certain large protozoa, and a cessa- 

 tion of all biological processes. When the lime is converted into carbonate or 

 combines with the soil constituents there is a gi*eat increase in the number 

 of bacteria and acceleration of ammonification. 



" The length of the period dui'ing which bacterial growth is suspended would 

 appear to be determined by the quantity of lime applied, the initial reaction of 

 the soil, and the amount of organic matter present. 



" Pot experiments have been carried out with A-ariously limed soils, and the 

 crop results show close agreement with those obtained by bacteriological and 

 chemical analyses." 



Mineral and nitrogen contents of pine needles and straw, H. Bauer {Ztschr. 

 Forst u. Jagdw., 45 {1913), No. 10, pp. 659, 660).— Analyses of needles and of 

 straw of Finus cemhra in various stages of decomposition are reported. The 

 percentages of ash and nitrogen were found to be very small but increased with 

 the age of the material. The increase of mineral constituents with age and 

 stage of decomposition was esi>ecially marked in the case of the lime. The 

 potash on the other hand decreased with age. 



Tobacco stalks as a fertilizer, H. D. Haskins {Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 

 1912, pt. 2, pp. 80-84). — This article gives analyses and discusses the fertilizing 

 value of various samples of leached and unleached tobacco stalks. Stalks ob- 

 tained in the so-called priming system of harvesting the crop contained much 

 less fertilizing matter than those obtained by stripping in the ordinary manner. 

 Stalks which had been allowed to lie on the land during the fall and winter 

 months had lost about 57 per cent of the total nitrogen and 51 per cent of the 

 total potash. 



Chemical industries of Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, T. H. 

 Norton {U. S. Dept. Com. and Labor, Bur. Foreign and Dom. Com., Spec. 

 Agents Sen, 1912, No. 65, pp. 85). — Data regarding the production of various 



