24 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



iiitri);,'(>ii suiiply and a (•(•iist'(|neiit hivad fauiiiH- is lifiefly discnssed in this 

 articlo. 



The high-tension arc and the fixation of nitrogen, (I. Brion {Plnjs. Ztachr., 

 S (HXJ7), \o. .tl. PI). 'i'.Ki-l'.i'.K ji<.l'<. U; <ih.s. in Sci. Abs., Sect. A — rhijs., 11 

 (/.''0,s'), No. 121, I). ()i)). — The author discusses the characteristics of the high- 

 tension arc .and the electrochemical rehitions. lie also describes the arrange- 

 ment which he eniidoyed and the results obtained in his studies on this subject. 

 He obtained the same yield per liilowatt for direct and for alternating currents, 

 thus practically confirming Birkeland's figures. 



Experimental investigations on the high-tension arc, G. Brion {Zt-schr. 

 Elcktrocliciti.. l.i {lixn), yo. .'/H, I>1>- "«^-7N6'. //V/v. .i(j ; ubs. in Sci. Abs.. Sect. 

 A—Phyx., 11 (inOS), No. 121, p. 69). — This is a full account of experiments 

 partly reported in the article noted above. 



The manufacture of calcium cyanamid, .7. B. C. Kershaw {Chcm. Trade 

 Jour., .'i2 (190S), No. i07cS, pp. (il-U'i, figs. .'/). — The Franlv and Caro process 

 and its modifications are described as well as the progress made in Europe in 

 the commercial application of the process. The probable cost of nitrogen in 

 the product by this process is discussed and suggestions are made regarding 

 the use of the lime nitrogen as a fertilizer. A list is also given of the principal 

 English patents covering the i)r()cess. It is stated that a factory locat-ed at 

 Odde in Norway will during 190S manufacture a product which will be put 

 on sale in England at about $2.40 per ton cheaper than ammonium sulphate 

 of the same nitrogen content. The present English market price of sulphate of 

 ammonia is about $.58.40 per ton. 



The action of sulphuric acid on calcium cyanamid, T. Jona (Gaz. Chim. 

 Itah, 31 {1901), II, No. 6, pp. .558-562; abs. in Jour. 8oc. Chcm. Indus., 21 

 (1908), No. 5, p. 22^). ^-The author concludes from the investigations briefly 

 reported in this article that under the conditions obtaining in his experiments 

 the action of sulphuric acid on calcium cyanamid results in the formation of 

 dicyanodiamidin sulphate corresponding to the formula (C-HeON4);!. H2SO4. 

 2H2O. Further investigations to determine whether this material can be 

 economically produced on a commercial scale are in progress. 



Other uses for lime, A. Paruy {Natal Agr. Jour, and Min. Rec, 10 {1901), 

 No. 11, pp. 1369-1312). — This article briefly discusses the use of lime in the 

 preparation of citrate of lime, calcium cyanamid, and calcium nitrate with a 

 view to the possible introduction of the manufacture of these products into 

 Natal. 



The German potash industry, K. Kubierschky {Die Deutsche KaJiindustrie. 

 Halle, 1901, pp. VIII+122, figs. 8; rev. in Ztschr. Landw. Vcrsuchsic. Osterr., 

 10 {1901), No. 1, p. 6/,8).— This is the third volume of Wohlgemuth's mono- 

 graphs on chemical-technical methods of manufacture. The mineral salts oc- 

 curring in the potash deposits are described as well as the processes, products, 

 and by-products of manufacture of these salts. 



The manufacture of potash in North Caucasus {Vycstnik Finansov, 2-J 

 {1901), No. .'I'l. pp. IS',. 135; abs. in Chcm. Ztg.. 32 {1908), No. 1, Rcpert., p. 3: 

 Rev. Sci. \}'aris], 5. ser.. 9 {1908), No. J/, p. 111). — The preparation of potash 

 as a by-pi'oduct of sunflower culture in this region is described. The potash is 

 prepared by lixiviation of ashes of the stalks, steams, leaves, etc., of the sun- 

 flower, evaporation of the solution, and calcination of the residue, the methods 

 employed l)eing very primitive. 



It is stated that 24 factories in Caucasia produced about 12,600 to 16,200 tons 

 of potash in 1907, valued at $1,133,000. About one-fourth of the product is 

 used in Russia, and the I'est is shipped to foreign countries, some being ex- 

 ported to this country. A very pure product is prei^ared containing 00 per cent 



