226 EXPEKIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



" The ' nitrogenous manure ' was the most valuable of the first four sources 

 of nitrogen mentioned above, and yet it was only about half as valuable as blood. 



" The ' hide and skin meal,' ' tartar manure,' and ' beet-refuse compound ' 

 were of very little value as sources of nitrogen, at least when applied imme- 

 diately before planting as would be done in ordinary practice. The ' beet-refuse 

 compound ' was said to contain cyanids, on which account it is advised by the 

 promoters that it be applied some time previous to planting. Under the con- 

 ditions of the experiment slight toxic effects were noted in some cases with 

 this material. The extravagant claims made for these substances as sources 

 of nitrogen seem to be wholly contrary to the facts. 



" The European calcium cyanamid, when applied immediately before planting, 

 delayed considerably the germination and early growth of barley. The only ill 

 effect observed with oats was the turning yellow of the tips of the seedlings. 

 The millet did not appear to be affected injuriously. The ordinary directions 

 that this material should be applied a few weeks before planting seem to be 

 justified, at least with certain crops. When these directions were not followed, 

 as in the present case, the material increased the crop less than was the case 

 with dried blood." 



Sodium nitrate as compared with ammonium sulphate, Brehmer {Garten- 

 ivelt, IJj {IS 10). No. 28, pp. 342-34.',, figs. 3).— These fertilizing materials were 

 compared on various kinds of vegetables grown on a sandy humus loai '• 



The results showed the importance of soluble fertilizers for such crops as well 

 as of the use of lime with ammonium sulphate. It was observed that peas and 

 beans were checked in their early growth when grown on soils deficient in 

 nitrogen and were benefited by applications of the nitrogenous fertilizers. The 

 author is of the opinion that sodium nitrate is better adapted to top-dressing 

 than ammonium sulphate on account of its quick action. Sodium nitrate, 

 moreover, is easily washed into the subsoil, whereas the ammonium sulphate iS" 

 more firmly held in the soil. The continued application of sodium nitrate tends 

 to form crusts on the soil. 



Comparative fertilizer experiments with, lime nitrogen, Buchner (SdcJis. 

 Landw. Ztschr., 58 (1910), No. 12, pp. 154, 155). — -Lime nitrogen was compared 

 with ammonium sulphate, Norwegian nitrate, and sodium nitrate on oats, 

 wheat, potatoes, and beets grown on a heavy deep clay loam soil containing 

 much organic matter. 



The results with the oats and wheat showed that sodium nitrate gave the 

 best yields of straw, but that the lime nitrogen and Norwegian nitrate gave as 

 high a yield of grain. With potatoes the lime nitrogen was almost as effective 

 as the other fertilizers, the ammonium sulphate giving the highest yield. In 

 case of beets the lime nitrogen was much less effectice than sodium nitrate. 



Transformation of calcium cyanamid in arable soil, C. Ulpiani {Gaz. 

 Cliim. Ital., 40 {1910), I, No. 6, pp. 613-666; a&s. in Jour. Hoc. Chem. Indus., 

 29 {1910), No. 16, p. 1027; Jour. Chem. 8oc. [London], 98 {1910), No. 576, II, pp. 

 890, 891. — Further experiments are reported which confirm the author's previ- 

 ously expressed view (E. S. R., 20, p. 924) that the transformation of calcium 

 cyanamid in the soil is, at least primarily, a purely physico-chemical process in 

 which micro-organisms play no part, and passes through two stages, (1) forma- 

 tion of urea, and (2) conversion of the latter into ammonium carbonate. 

 Experiments are reported in which the conditions were such as to preclude the 

 existence of life during the first stage, but were not conclusive as to the second 

 stage. 



The utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, A. W. Crossley {Pharm. Jour. 

 [London], 4. ser., SO {1910), No. 2421, pp. 329-341, pJs. 2, figs. 2).— This paper 

 deals with the progress in 'the manufacture of nitrogen compounds from the 



