520 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Analysis shows approximately 4 per cent of nitrogen, 0,75 per cent each of 

 potash and phosphoric acid, 5 per cent of lime and magnesia (mainly the 

 former), and 40 per cent of organic matter in the air-dry loggerhead sponge, 

 indicating a high fertilizing value. 



Composts, K. D. x^nstead (Planters' Chron., 8 {1913), No. 51, pp. 654 655). — 

 About 24 tons of materials consisting of alternate layers of coffee pulp (E. S. R., 

 28, p. 224), ashes, and bone meal were placed in brick pits and allowed to rot 

 down to about 15 tons of compost ready for application. This contained 68.8 

 per cent of water. The air-dry compost contained 4.34 per cent of phosphoric 

 acid, 0.76 per cent potash, 5.89 per cent lime, and 1.96 per cent nitrogen. 



Fertilizers in Japan, W. Gassett {Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. [U. S.], 17 

 {191Jf), No. 7, p. 109). — The total value of fertilizers consumed in Japan in 1912 

 is stated to have been $104,425,093, of which $30,617,500 was for artificial fer- 

 tilizers, $32,300,000 for night soil, $31,410,000 for taibi (manure from straw, 

 etc.), and $7,057,500 for ryoliubi (green manure (?)) and other kinds. 



The value of imported manures was over $26,(KX),000, including bean cake 

 $12,650,000, rape-seed cake $1,300,000, cotton-seed cake $500,000, ammonium sul- 

 phate $7,500,000, phosphate $3,150,000, and sodium nitrate $1,400,000. 



"Alaskan powdered fish manure has been imported for some years as a sub- 

 stitute for Hokkaido fish manure, but owing to the bad quality none was im- 

 ported into Kobe in 1912. This year (1913) the quality has been improved, 

 some shipments have been made, and there is a good demand for it at the pres- 

 ent price, about $2.15 per 10 kwan (about $2.50 per 100 lbs.). 



" The Japanese in Chosen recently have been using starfish as fertilizing ma- 

 terial ; it is reported to be excellent for rice. An analysis shows it to contain 

 4.858 per cent nitrogen and 0.889 per cent phosphoric acid. The price is about 

 half that of Japanese-made oil cake." 



Report of analyses of samples of commercial fertilizers collected by the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture during 1913 {New York State Sta. Bui. 371 

 {1913), pp. 433-548). — Analyses of samples of fertilizers and agricultural lime 

 collected and examined under the provisions of the New York State fertilizer 

 law during 1913 are reported with a schedule of trade values of fertilizing ma- 

 terials and a brief discussion of the valuation and agricultural value of fer- 

 tilizers. 



AGRICULTUIIAL BOTANY. 



Introduction to botany, J. Y. Bergen and O. W. Caldwell {Boston, New 

 York, Chicago, and London, 1914, pp. VII +368, pi. 1, figs. 2-^6).— This book, 

 which is an abridgment of the authors' Practical Botany (E. S. R., 27, p. 423), 

 is designed for half-year courses in elementary schools. The order of treat- 

 ment adopted is to give a general notion of the distribution and importance of 

 plants and to describe the plant as a working machine, discussing its structure 

 and work, after which some of the greater groups are briefly presented. 

 Throughout the entire work the plants used as a basis of study are usually 

 those of common interest. A few of the more practical applications, such as 

 timber and forestry, weeds, plant breeding, and the plant industries, are given 

 separate chapters. 



Popular botany: The living plant from seed to fruit, A. E. Knight and 

 E. Step {New York, [19131, vols. 1, pp. VIII +288, pis. 9, figs. 851; 2, pp. 289- 

 588, pis. 9, figs. 370). — This book tells in a popular manner of the salient 

 features of plant life, the object being to awaken an interest in the plant world 

 and to stimulate the reader to investigate facts for himself. 



Plant life and plant uses, J. G. CJoulter (New York, Cincinnati, and Chi- 

 cago, 1913, pp, XVI +464, pi, 1, figs. 230),—r£his is an elementary text-book 



