626 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Efficiency of soluble manures in dry years, F, LfiONABDON (Rev. Agr. et 

 Vit. Afrique Nord, 1913, Nos. 49, pp. 151-155; 50, pp. 180-186; al)S. in Internat. 

 Inst. Agr. [Rnme^, Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 4 {1913), No. Jf, 

 pp. 558-557; Clicm. Al)s., 8 {1914), ^o. 5, p. 979). — The results of demonstration 

 experiments with various crops in different parts of Algeria and Tunis in 1911-12 

 are summarized, showing in general the high efficiency of mineral fertilizers as 

 compared with organic manures. Sodium nitrate was especially effective. The 

 results indicated that there is a minimum of moisture below which fertilizers 

 give little or no benefit. There was little increase from the use of fertilizers 

 on soils containing less than 15 per cent of moisture. 



Soil nitrog-en. — Green manures {Georgia Sta. Give. 71 {1914), PP 2). — In 

 this circular some practical deductions are drawn from the investigations pre- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 517), viz, that cotton-seed meal, tankage, and dried 

 blood are nitrified in the acid soils experimented with more readily than am- 

 monium sulphate, unless the soils are limed, but since the field experiments of 

 the station have shown that the sulphate is a more effective fertilizer for corn 

 and cotton than the other substances named it apparently can be readily 

 utilized by crops whether nitrified or not. 



The further inference is drawn from the results that the soil bacteria do not 

 ferment green manures in such a way as to produce acids, " but on the other 

 hand their action is such as to neutralize partly any acid that might be present 

 in the soil." 



Nine years' experiments with, the new nitrog-enous fertilizers, S. Rhodin 

 {Meddel. Centralanst. Forsoksv. JordhruTcsomrddet, No. 75 {1918), pp. 17; K. 

 Landthr. Akad. Handl. och Tidskr., 52 {1913), No. 3, pp. 192-206).— A summary 

 is given of experiments with sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, calcium 

 nitrate, and calcium cyanamid for cereals, hay, root crops, and potatoes con- 

 ducted by the Swedish experiment station during the period 1903 to 1911. Of 

 the fertilizers mentioned the calcium nitrate produced the best results for grass, 

 roots, and potatoes, while for cereals, especially oats, which do not require 

 much lime, it proved inferior to sodium nitrate. Even in this case, however, 

 the application of calcium nitrate gave profitable returns. 



The after effects of the fertlizers were studied in a number of trials with 

 sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, and cyanamid on a stiff clay. On tbe 

 average for three crops of spring grains and two of potatoes the relative in- 

 crease in yield of dry matter during the second and third years from the 

 nitrogenous fertilizers, above that of the control plats, was as follows: Sodium 

 nitrate 100, ammonium sulphate 115, and calcium cyanamid 108. 



The nitrate position and results {Economist, 78 {1914), ^^o. 3672, pp. 71, 

 j2). — The total exports of nitrate from Chile are stated to have been slightly 

 greater in 1913 than in 1912. Europe and Egypt took 1,816,170 tons, about 6 

 per cent less, and the United States 560,010 tons, about 25 per cent more. An 

 attempt was made to restrict production but was not entirely successful. It is 

 thought that the prospect for greatly increased use is not good unless there is 

 still further decline in price. 



Phosphate deposits in southwestern Virginia, G. W. Stose {U. 8. Geol. 

 Survey Bids. 540-L {1913), pp. 16, figs. 3; 540 {1914), PP- 883-398, figs. 3; ahs. 

 in Amer. Pert., 40 {1914), No. 2, pp. 54-56, 60, fig. i).— Deposits observed at two 

 places, one near Saltville and the other near Marion, are described. The 

 phosphate bed is composed of grains and small pebbles of quartz, glaucouite, 

 and phosphate nodules. The richest sample of phosphate rock collected con- 

 tains 27.17 per cent of phosphoric acid. The commercial importance of the 

 deposits was not determined. 



