SOILS FERTILIZERS. 223 



value of lime as a plant food. The iniuimuui lime requirements of Azotobacter 

 in the soil is estimated to be 0.1 jter cent. 



The action of various combinations of manganese and particularly of a 

 manganiferous mineral used as a fertilizer for plants, N. Strampelli (Atti 

 6. Cong. Internal. Cliini. Api)h, '/ (1906), pp. L'i-17). — Plat tests with grain are 

 reported in which manganese carbonate, sulphate, and dioxid, and a manganese 

 ore were used in combination with other fertilizing materials. An increase of 

 yield due to addition of the manganese compounds was observed in all cases, 

 the greatest increase resulting from the use of the sulphate. 



The use and increasing' production of sulphate of ammonia, T. Collot 

 (Jnio: Agr. Prat., n. ser., 15 {1908), No. 10, pp. 301-30',) .—Tlia total production 

 of sulphate of ammonia for the whole world in 1907 is placed at 84.5.000 metric 

 tons, valued at $50,700,000. Of this amount England produced 301,000 tons and 

 the United States 36,000 tons. The production in Germany has increased fi'om 

 55,000 tons in 1896 to 287,000 tons in 1907. France produced during the year 

 53,000 tons and consumed 72,900 tons. 



The value of sulphate of ammonia as a fertilizer for various crops, particu- 

 larly cereals, beets, and potatoes, is discussed, and the importance of increasing 

 the production of this material as a by-product of coke making and by distilla- 

 tion of peat is pointed out. 



The utilization of the nitrogen of the air in Germany, Kempski {Naturiv. 

 Wchnsclir., 23 (1908), No. 12, pp. 180, 186). — This note refers to the processes 

 now in actual use and the manufacturing plants in operation in Germany and 

 other European countries for the preparation of nitrogenous compounds from 

 the nitrogen of the air. The processes mentioned are those of Birkeland and 

 Kyde for the preparation of lime nitrate and of Frank and Caro and of Pol- 

 zeuius for the preparation of calcium cyanamid. The plants referred to are 

 those of Piano d'Orta in Italy, Westeregeln, near Stassfurt, in Germany, with 

 an output of about 4,400 tons of nitrogen lime per year, and Briihl, near Cologne, 

 with an output of about 11,000 tons per year. The technical application of 

 Ostn-ald's process for the conversion o'f the nitrogen of nitrogen lime into 

 ammonia is also noted. 



On the utilization of atmospheric nitrogen by means of calcium and 

 barium, A. Piccinini {Atti 6. Cong. Internaz. Chim. AppL, 3 {1906), pp. 215- 

 226). — The history and chemistry of fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by elec- 

 trical means, especially the calcium cynamid process, is reviewed and a bibli- 

 ography of 23 references to investigations on the subject is given. 



The action of certain fertilizers on calcium cyanamid, G. Fascetti {Atti 6. 

 Cong. Interna^. Cliini. AppJ., J, {1906), pp. 372-378).— A study of the effects 

 of mixing superphosphates, slag, and mineral phosphates in varying proportions 

 with calcium cyanamid is reported. 



On the chlorin content of kainit, J. C. de Ruijter de Wildt {Cultura, 20 

 {1908), No. 235, pp. 155-160). — The percentages of potash and chlorin in 59 

 samples of commercial kainit are reported. The percentages of lime, magnesia, 

 and sulphuric acid are also given for some of the samples. The chlorin varied 

 from 28 to 50.8 per cent, the potash from 10.8 to 17.1 per cent. As a rule the 

 potash increased with the chlorin content. 



Investigations on the composition of Peruvian guano and its value as a 

 fertilizer, J. G. Maschhaupt ( Verstag. Landbomvk. Onderzoek. Rijksland- 

 houtrproefstat., 1908, No. 3, pp. 5-21). — This article contains information regard- 

 ing the origin, formation, and character of the guano deposits, as well as recent 

 analyses and a discussion of the fertilizing value of the guano. 



