428 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



analysis showed to contain 19.4 per cent of iron snlpbid, 1.9 per cent of calcium 

 sulphate, 22.5 per cent of carbouaceous aud bituminous matter, and 34 pei' cent 

 of clay, is discussed. 



Water plants as fertilizer, O. Oelkeb (Deut. Fischerei Corresp., 13 (1909), 

 pp. It, 5; ahs. in Wasser u. Ahwasser, 3 (1910), No. 7, p. 286). — ^Analyses of 

 water plants collected from fish ponds are reported, showing that this material 

 compares favorably in composition with fresh stable manure.. 



Fertilizers, R. E. Rose and L. Heimburgee (Fla. Quart. Bui. Agr. Dept., 20 

 (1910), Nos. 2, pp. 1,0, 41, J,5-5Jt, 58-11; 3, pp. 52, 53, 57-66, 70-81; /,, iW- 65, 

 66, 70-79, 83-91 ) , — These reports give the section of the state laws providing for 

 inspection of fertilizers, instructions to manufacturers and dealers in ferti- 

 lizers, market prices and valuation, formulas for vegetables and fruits, and 

 analyses of fertilizers inspected during 1910. 



Inspection and analyses of commercial fertilizers, W. F. Hand et ai.. 

 (Mississippi Sta. Bui. 1^2, pp. 71). — This bulletin contains analyses and valua- 

 tions of 665 samples of fertilizers examined during the season of 1909-10. 



About 75 per cent of the fertilizers examined were above guaranty in relative 

 value. The deficiencies were most marked in the case of nitrogen, and espe- 

 cially in high-grade fertilizers, in which the average percentage of nitrogen 

 found was 1.79 while the average guaranty was 1.95 per cent. 



Analyses and valuations of commercial fertilizers, C. S. Cathcart et ax. 

 (New Jersey Stas. Bui. 233, pp. //3).— This bulletin contains analyses and valu- 

 ations of 358 commercial brands of fertilizers, 10 home mixtures, 30 special 

 compounds, and 150 samples of fertilizer supplies. 



In 25 samples of nitrate of soda the nitrogen varied from 14.41 to 15.8 per 

 cent, with an average cost per pound of nitrogen of 15.77 cts. The average cost 

 of nitrogen in 6 samples of ammonium sulphate was 15.54 cts. per pound. In 

 11 samples of dried blood the nitrogen varied from 7.66 to 13.62 per cent and 

 the phosphoric acid from 0.46 to 4.47 per cent. The average cost of nitrogen 

 per pound was 20.25 cts. In 18 samples of dried aud ground fish the nitrogen 

 varied from 5.47 to 8.77 per cent and the phosphoric acid from 5.27 to 9.92 per 

 cent. The average cost of the nitrogen per pound was 19.94 cts. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. L. Hills, C. H. Jones, and P. A. Benedict (Ver- 

 mont Sta. Bui. 154, PP- 635-702, 7.'/0-7-i3).— This portion of the bulletin reports 

 analyses and valuations of 152 brands of fertilizers, representing 14 companies, 

 inspected during the spring of 1910. It is stated that 91 per cent of the brands 

 met their guaranties and not a single brand failed to furnish a commercial 

 equivalent of its guaranty. The materials used to furnish phosphoric acid and 

 potash were of good quality. A tendency toward increased use of low-grade 

 nitrogenous materials was, however, observed. A comparison of analyses of 

 brands for five years shows essential uniformity of composition in some cases 

 but considerable variation in others. 



The inspection of cotton-seed meal, W. F. Hand et al. (Mississippi Sta. 

 Bui. 143, pp. 37). — This bulletin reports analyses and valuations of 407 samples 

 of cotton-seed meal examined during 1910. With very few exceptions the com- 

 position was found to be well above the guaranty. 



AGHICTJLTURAL BOTANY. 



The conditions of parasitism in plants, D. T. MacDougal and W. A. Cannon 

 (Carnegie Inst. Washington Pub. 129, pp. III+60, pis. 10, figs. 2).— After a dis- 

 cussion of dependent nutrition in seed plants, an account is given of investiga- 

 tions on Krameria canescens and K. parvifolia, two desert shrubs that have 

 hitherto been considered as autophytic. These plants have been found to fasten 



