AGRTCUI.TURAL BOTANY. 625 



Phosphate production in Algeria and Tunis, 1907 (Chciii. Indus. [Bvilin]. 

 61 iJUiiS), .\ o. UK I'll, ■i'ia, .ill). — Statistics <if production and export are given 

 for 19(H> and 1!K)7. The total exports in 1J)07 amountetl to 1,300,000 tons. It is 

 ostiinatt^l tiiat the exports for lOOS will amount to 1,720,(XX) tons. 



The composition and value of sugar beet vinasse, F. Verbikse and B. 

 l)ABRAS-VKRi5if:sK [lirttcntvc, IH (liWS), Xos. .',50, pp. l.',J,-].',6 ; .',51, pp. 163, 

 16',). — Analyses of a number of samples of this material are given. The data 

 relating to the fertilizing value of the substance show that nitrogen varies 

 from (».591 to 1.24.*^ kg. jier cubic meter of material, i)hosphoric acid frcmi 0.211 

 to <t.."»2.") kg., and iK)tash from 0.00.5 to 1.724 kg. These figures indicate that the 

 material has considerable value as a fertilizer. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. S. Burd (California Sta. Bui. 201, pp. 273-293). — 

 This bulletin contains tabulated analyses and valuations of 230 samples of 

 fertilizers and fertilizing materials collected and examined during the half year 

 ouded June 30. 1'.)08. The California fertilizer law allows a deficiency of 0.2.5 

 per cent in nitrogen, 0..5 jier cent in potash, and 1 per cent in available phos- 

 phoric acid. Fifty-four of the samples rejjorted in this bulletin showed greater 

 deficiencies than these in one or more constituents. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers and Paris green, J. E. Halligan et al. 

 { Louisiana i<tu.s. liul. II J. p. 3-15',). — This bulletin summarizes the results of 

 analyses of 5.267 sjimples of fertilizers and 40 samples of Paris green inspected 

 under the State laws during the .season of 1007-8, and discusses briefly the 

 quality and valuation of the various materials examined. It is stated that on 

 the whole the fertilizers were up to the manufacturers' claims and of good 

 (piality. The comiiaratively few failures to comply with the guaranty are 

 attributed to poor mecbaniial mixture. All of the samples of Paris green 

 examined sluiwed more than the .50 iier cent of arsenious oxid required by law, 

 the average percentage found by analysis being 55.85 i)er cent. 



Analyses and valuations of commercial fertilizers, C. S. Cathcart et al. 

 {Xcic Jcrnry Stas. Bui. 215, pp. 3-39). — This bulletin reports the results of 

 analyses and valuations of 4CA samples of fertilizing materials collected during 

 the season of 1007-S. 



Report of analyses of samples of fertilizers collected by the commissioner 

 of agriculture during 1908 ( \<ir York State Sta. lint. .id',, pp. 255-3.il ). — This 

 bulletin gives the results of analyses by the station of samples of fertilizers 

 colle<-ted by the State commissioner of agriculture during 1908. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Experiments in the nutrition of plants, A. Pktit (Bui. Mrn.<). Off. Rru.<<ri(j. 

 . >;//•. |/'»///.s|, 7 (I'.iOS), \o. 7. pp. S2ii-S23}.—()n account of the claims that green 

 plants are able to utilize glucose in solution through their roots, the author 

 Investigated the subjec;t from the standpoint of the horticulturist, hoping to 

 counteract the effect of cloudy days and long winter nights in the forcing of 

 vegetables, llowers. etc. 



In the preliminary exiieriments, which were carrie<l on in .Xoveniber and 

 I)e<-eniber, coleuses, calci'olarias, and abutilons were grown in pots 15 cm. in 

 diamefer filled with earth. To one lot 4 gm. of glucose and to another lot 

 8 gm. of glucos<> were given in 2 doses at 1.5-day intervals. Each pot was 

 fertlllz<'d with 0.5 gm. sul])hate of annnonia and 0.2 gm. phosphate of potash. 

 The weight tif the plants was deterndned at the end of December, when those 

 re<eiving tlie greater quantify of gluco.se were so manifestly inferior to those 

 not receiviug the glucose that the exiHiriment was repeated with a still greater 



