122 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Plans for the construction of manure pits, Fkiz ( Wiirttemh. Wchnbl. Landw.. 

 19()S. \(j. I, pp. //-7, fiffs. ,'?). — Descrii)tloiis iiiid plans of various kinds of manure 

 pits are given. 



Demonstration experiments with fertilizers in Carinthia during 1905 and 

 1906, H. SvoBODA {Ztsdir. Larulw. Vcrsuchsw. Osterr., 11 (1908), ^"o. I, pp. 

 ^.2-.i5; ahs. in Client. ZrnthL, 1908, I, No. 8, p. 759). — The cooperative experi- 

 ments of previous years (E. S. R., 16, p. 761; 17, p. 753) were continued during 

 1006 and the results of 151 such experiments carried out during that ^'e-.w ai-e 

 rei)orted in detail in this article, a comparison being made of both the direct 

 (first year) and after effect of the various fertilizers on oats, potatoes, and 

 hay meadows. 



As in previous experiments, combinations of Thomas slag and potash salts 

 were used on grasses and of superphosphate, potash salts, and nitrate of soda 

 on oats and potatoes. The after effects of the commercial fertilizers were very 

 good, especially on the grasses. In this case not only was the second cut of 

 grasses increased, but the yield the second year after the application of the 

 fertilizers was greater than the first year. It was also observed that under the 

 unfavorable weather conditions of both 1905 and 1906 the meadows which had 

 received fertilizers suffered much less injury than those which had not been 

 fertilized. The results obtained with barnyard manure combined with commer- 

 cial fertilizers lead to the conclusion that while it is not advisable to completely 

 replace manure with commercial fertilizers, the yield and profit can be greatly 

 increased by judiciously supplementing the manure with such fertilizers. 



The results of field experiments with fertilizers on sandy soils in a bad 

 state of cultivation, Clausen (Dciit. Landw. Prcsse, So (1908), Nos. 11, pp. 103, 

 106; 12, pp. 115, 116). — Kainit, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of ammonia with 

 superphosphate and Thomas slag were tested in pot and field experiments with 

 oats and potatoes. The effect of the different fertilizers and fertilizer combi- 

 nations on the yield and nitrogen content of the crop is discussed. 



Influence of fertilizers on the composition of wheat, H. Snyder (Ah.s. in 

 Science, n. ser., 21 (1008), No. 686, p. 297). — This is an abstract of a paper 

 presented at the Chicago meeting of the American Chemical Society, the essen- 

 tial features of which have been noted from another source (E. S. R.. 19, i). 

 941). 



On nitrogenous fertilizers and their application, P. Lavenib (Rev. Faciilt. 

 Af/ron. y Vet. La Plata, 2. ser., 3 (1907), No. 7-9, pp. 199-217).— This article 

 discusses the source, value, and use of nitrate of sotla, sulphate of ammonia, 

 the artificial compounds prepared from atmospheric nitrogen, and various 

 nitrogenous fertilizers of animal and vegetable origin, as well as green manures. 



Nitrates as soil renovators, O. Schreiner and H. S. Reed (Ahs. in Science, n. 

 ser.. 27 (1908), No. 686, p. 296). — This is an abstract of a paper presented at 

 the Chicago meeting of the American Chemical Society. Attention is called in 

 this paper to the possible action of nitrates in aiding in the destruction of 

 harmful organic substances which may be present in unproductive soils. 

 Observations and investigations ai'e reported which indicate that the roots of 

 plants have a sti"ong oxidizing jxjwer and that this power is greatly increased 

 by the addition of nitrates, the combined action of the two being suflicieut to 

 destroy harmful organic bodies and thus to improve conditions for plant growth. 

 It was shown by chemical analysis that when toxic bodies were used in the 

 experiments they were destroyed by the plant and nitrates. 



The nitrogen capacity of cultivated soils with one-sided fertilization with 

 nitrate of soda, T. Pfeiffer (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 57 (1908), No. 2, pp. 

 41~46). — On the basis of his own previous work and that of other investigators 

 the author argues that the use of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, 



