SOIL.S-— FEETILIZERS. 23 



<s7«; (ib.^. in Chcin. ZcathL, I!)07, 11, No. 0, pi). 7J2-7SJf; J908, I, Xo. J, itp. >h3, 

 ■2S.'t; Jour. Clicm. Soc. [London], 94 (1908), No. 5Jf3, II, p. 60; Chem. Abs., 2 

 (1908). So. (>. PI). 878, 879). — The importauce of a study of tbo botanical origin 

 and cliaracteristics of peat deposits as an aid in vniderstanding tlieir cLieniioal 

 and physical properties is euiiihasized. The characteristic vegetation from 

 which certain Austrian upland and lowland moors have been derived is described 

 and the determining influence of the vegetation on the color, structure, coher- 

 ence, absorptive power, composition of the organic and inorganic matter, and 

 fuel value of the peat is pointed out. 



The Austrian moors are classified as follows with reference to the principal 

 forms of peat which they yield which are of value for cultivation, for litter, and 

 for fuel: Sphagnum, wool-grass moss, Carex, i-eed, Hypnum. Scheuchzeria, Erio- 

 phorum, wood, raw moor humus, and liver peat. 



The hygroscopic! ty of undecomposed peat is higher than that of decomposed, 

 although the latter contains more humus substances which are highly hygro- 

 scopic. The absorptive power of peat for ammonia depends less upon the bo- 

 tanical composition than upon the free humic acids and colloids pi'esent. The 

 ash content of peat is as a rule higher than its botanical composition would indi- 

 cate. This is accounted for by admixture of foreign mineral matter. Of the 

 ash constituents of the plants forming peat the easily soluble potash and sodium 

 salts have been almost completely leached out. The phosphoric acid has been 

 removed to a moderate extent and lime and iron have remained almost entirely 

 undissolved. As a result peat is often very rich in these constituents. Schench- 

 zeria peat is especially rich in phosphoric acid, which appears to be combined 

 with iron. 



The nitrogen content of peat depends primarily upon the nitrogen content of 

 the plants from which it has been formed and secondarily upon chemical 

 processes resulting in absorption of ammonia and upon the accumulation of 

 chitin remains of insects, etc. Only very resistant forms of nitrogen accumulate 

 in peat. 



Sphagnum moss and undecomposed sphagnum peat has a very strong acid 

 reaction due to free organic acids. This explains in part the high absorptive 

 power of these substances for ammonia. 



THe heating value of the different peats was found to vary widely (more than 

 2.J per cent) and no close relation was observed between the fuel value and the 

 ash content of the water- free substance. 



The nitrification of peat in artificial niter beds, F. Desprez {Bettcravc, 

 18 (1908), Xo. .'I'lJ, pp. 10-13). — A method of constructing a peat niter bed de- 

 vised and successfully operated for several years by E. Bazin, a sugar manu- 

 facturer of Laon, is described. The bed is constructed and operated upon es- 

 sentially the same principles as those recently described by Miintz and I.aliie 

 (E. S. R., IS, pp. 323, 430). It is stated that when nitrification in these beds is 

 in active operation they produce from 350 to 400 gm. per cubic meter of peat 

 every 24 hours. 



Report on trials of machinery used in the peat industry, 1906 {Mecldel. K. 

 Landthr. Styr. [Siccden], 1907, Xo. 8 (127), pp. 79, pgs. 36). — The methods and 

 apparatus usetl are described and results of trials of Aarious kinds of machinery 

 at the testing station of the Royal Agricultural Department at Utford, Sweden, 

 '.u-e reported. 



The utilization of atmospheric nitrogen in its economic and social relations, 

 I'. 15. (JiovANNi (Rii: Intcrnaz. Sci. .Sf^-., .'/.'/ (1907), Xo. 172, pp. J/ 81 -.',9 3). —The 

 importance of devising commercial means of utilizing the niti'ogen of the air 

 independently of leguminous plants as security against a shortage of the 



53818— No. 1—08 3 



