SOILS FERTILIZERS. 429 



when the carbonate was applied. The iujurious effect of the additional ap- 

 plication of lime was especially marked iu case of oats in the early stages- of 

 growth. In some of the experiments in which calcium carbonate was not used 

 the cyanamid was used in much larger amounts than would be employed in 

 practice without evidence of injury to the plants at any period of their growth. 



Investigations on the action of sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda 

 as fertilizers, E. Blobel (UiitcrsucJiunyvii iibcr den Wirkuiigswcrt von schnc- 

 fclsaurem Ammoniak und ChiUsalpeter als Dilngemittel. Inaug. Diss. Leipsic, 

 J90S, vi). 100; (lbs. in Chem. Ztg., 32 (1908), No. 42, Rcpert., p. 27-'/).— From nu- 

 merous investigations made on the subject the author concludes that the normal 

 fertilizing value of the nitrogen of ammonium sulphate is equal to that of nitrate 

 of soda and not 90 per cent of it, as stated by Wagner. It is impossible, however, 

 to state a normal for the effect in the fleld, because of the various modifying 

 and uncontrolled influences there. Averages of results of iield experiments are, 

 therefore, unreliable. The author claims that the nitrification of the ammonium 

 sulphate is complete and not accompanied by any loss of nitrogen, as main- 

 tained by Wagner, and that, contrary to Wagner's assertion, serious loss of 

 ammonia by evaporation seldom occurs. 



It should be borne in mind in comparing the fertilizing value of the two ma- 

 terials that the ammonium salt must first be converted into nitrate and that in 

 this process more or less of the nitrogen is fixed for a time by bacterial action 

 in organic form. For this reason the nitrate gives quicker results than the sul- 

 phate and is better suited for top-dressing and certain other purposes. On 

 the other hand, the nitrate is more subject to loss by leaching. 



Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia. A. Damseaux (Ann: Gembloux, 

 18 {1908), Ao. 6, pp. 3')4-360). — A brief review is given of Wagner's investiga- 

 tions on this subject. 



On the properties and action of sulphate of ammonia containing a large 

 amount of free sulphuric acid, Lemmermann {FuliUng's Landiv. Ztg., 51 {1908), 

 .Yo. 9, pp. 33Jt~339). — No iujurious efl:"ects were observed in experiments on 

 barley with sulphate of ammonia containing 3 per cent of free sulphuric acid. 

 The average amount of fi-ee sulphuric acid iu German sulphate of ammonia is 

 said not to exceed 0.8 per cent. 



The effect of the new nitrogenous fertilizers on hemp, V. Stohr (Hospodar 

 Moravskij. Briiun, 9 (1907), No. 20; ab.s. in Zentbl. Agr. Chem., 31 (1908), No. 

 .',, pp. 229-233; Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 9J, (1908), No. 5.',1, II, p. ^21).— In 

 pot tests basic lime nitrate was as effective as sodium nitrate and ammonium 

 sulphate. Lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime were less effective. 



Comparative fertilizer experiments with nitrogen lime and nitrate of soda, 

 R, KuHNERT {Landic. Wchnbl. Schles. Hoist., 58 (1908), No. 19, pp. 366-368).— 

 In these experiments the use of nitrogen lime resulted in a financial loss in the 

 case of beets. With rye and oats somewhat better results were obtained, but 

 the increased yield barely covered the expense of the fertilizer. Profitable 

 returns were obtained in all cases with the nitrate of soda. 



Nitrogen fertilizers, especially lime niter, lime nitrogen, and nitrogen lime, 

 A. Stutzer (Jahrh. Dent. Landir. GeselL, 23 (1908), No. 1, pp. .'t 1-50). —Thin 

 iirtide discusses the relative efficiency of these forms of nitrogenous fertilizers 

 on different kinds of soils and crops. 



On the influence of sterilization on the solubility of lime nitrogen, II. 

 Kappen (Centm. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 20 (1908), No. 21-23, pp. 10.',-115; abs. in 

 Chem. Ztg., 32 (1908), No. 50, Repert., p. 323; Chem. Zentbl., 1908, I, No. 26, 

 p. 2198; Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 9-', (1908), No. 5'il, II. p. /////).— It is main- 

 tained in this article that the sterilization of lime-nitrogen solutions brings 

 about pronounced changes which may materially modify bacterial action iu such 



