124 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



indicated by tlie action of these materials in increasing tlie yield of crops in pot 

 experiments, tlie fertilizing efficiency shown by lime nitrogen, nitrogen lime, and 

 dicyanamid comparing very favorably witli that of ammonium sulphate. It is 

 shown that by heating and especially evaporating the solution of lime nitrogen 

 the rapidity of transformation into ammonia by the action of micro-oi'ganisms is 

 greatly accelerated. 



The authors conclude that while it may be possible under favorable conditions 

 to secure a transformation of 99 per cent of the nitrogen of calcium cyanamid 

 into ammonia and finally into nitrates, it is not likely that such high efficiency 

 as this indicates can be obtained in practice. 



Experiments with new nitrogenous fertilizers, L. Malpeaux {Betterave, JS 

 (190S), No. JfJ/O, PI). 67-70). — Experiments made at the agricultural school of 

 Berthonval during 1907 with basic lime nitrate and calcium cyanamid on barley 

 and oats are reported. The results obtained with the first were somewhat 

 superior to those obtained in case of nitrate of soda. The second gave results 

 about equal to those obtained with suliihate of ammonia. 



Experiments with, calcium cyanamid, A. D. Hall {.Jour. Bd. Ayr. [London \, 

 IJf (1908), No. 11, pp. 652-661). — The experiments reported deal mainly with 

 the question of the changes which calcium cyanamid is likely to undergo iuider 

 different conditions. The principal conclusions drawn from the expermients 

 are "that calcium cyanamid as now manufactured can be stored for a reasoua 

 ble time under ordinary conditions without danger or sensible loss of its fer- 

 tilizing properties ; cyanamid can also be mixed without difficulty or loss with 

 superphosphate, the resulting mixture being as easily handled as any other 

 artificial manure." 



Nitrolime, G. L. Ragondet {Jour. Soc. Ayr. Brabant ct Hainaut, 53 {1908), 

 No. 9, pp. 219-223). — The manufacture, properties, composition, keeping quality, 

 and use as a fertilizer of calcium cyanamid are briefly discussed in this article. 



The effect of the addition of sodium to deficient amounts of potassium, 

 upon the growth of plants in both water and sand cultures, B. L. Hartwell, 

 H. J. Wheeler, and F. R. Pember {Rhode Island Hta. Rijt. 1007, pp. 299^51, 

 pi. 1). — -This is an account of investigations carried on in cooperation with the 

 Bureau of Soils of this Department and " gives the results of growing wheat 

 seedlings in complete nutrient solutions containing deficient, and approximately 

 optimum amounts of potassium, and the same supplemented by sodium and 

 again by extra calcium. 



"Sodium seemed to cause no increase in growth when an optimum amount of 

 potassium was present, but when the deficiency of potassium was great enough 

 to cause about a 30 per cent depression in the green weight produced, the addi- 

 tion of sodium did give an inci*ease in growth which usually amounted to 10 

 per cent, or more, within a period of from two to three weeks, under the par- 

 ticular conditions of these experiments. 



" The extra calcium did not on the whole increase the growth, either when 

 used with an optimum or a deficient amount of potassium. 



" The beneficial effect of sodium, when accompanying a small amount of 

 potassium, is not attributed to the increase in the osmotic pressure of the solu- 

 tion, because the addition of extra calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, or nitrogen 

 failed to cause an increase in growth. 



" The increase in transpii*ation was usually less than that in green weight, 

 when sodium was added, or the potassium increased. This seemed 'especially 

 marked with the alkali carbonates. 



"A larger amount of potassium was left in the solution by the growing seed- 

 lings when the potassium in the nutrient medium was supplemented by sodium. 

 In other words, sodium was a conserver of potassium. 



