722 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Note on the absorption of atmospheric moisture by certain nitrogenous 

 manures, G. Brownlee (Jour. Agr. Sci., 2 (1008), No. J, />/>. 380, 381, chart 1; 

 alts, in Chem, Abs., 3 (1009), No. 1, p. 93). — "Ten gm. each of the manures 

 sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, calcium cyanamid, and nitrate of lime 

 (Notodden, 190G) were exposed to air in a room the windows of which were kept 

 open during the experiment, and the changes in weight noted for a period of 29 

 days. At the same time barometric and temperature (wet and dry bulb) read- 

 ings were taken dailj'. 



" The percentages of moisture ill the manures at the commencement were as 

 follows : Sulphate of ammonia 4.52, nitrate of soda 2.85, calcium cyanamid 0.50, 

 nitrate of lime 2.02. , , , 



" The sulphate of ammonia became rather drier during the experiment and was 

 quite powdery at the finish. 



" The nitrate of soda was found at the end to be wettish underneath. Ap- 

 parently its condition varies with the state of the atmosphere. In another 

 experiment on a different sample of the ordinary commercial salt, when the 

 air was very moist for many days in succession, nitrate of soda became (piite 

 wet. Evidently this manure can not always be conveniently kept under ordi- 

 nary conditions. 



" The calcium cyanamid remained unchanged in appearance throughout the 

 experiment. It was, however, pai-tly caked, though quite dry and powdery to 

 the touch. (H. von Feilitzen states [E. S. li., 10. p. 221] that calcium cyanamid 

 prepared by the Polzenius i)rocess contains a slight excess of calcium chlorid, 

 which renders the product very hygroscoi)ic, causing it to cake together in hard 

 lumps and to burst the containing sacks.) On opening a bottle containing 

 calcium cyanamid there is always a smell of ammonia, showing that this sub- 

 stance would deteriorate if left exposed. 



" The nitrate of lime showed signs of becoming wet after a few hours' exposure 

 and by the third day was quite liquid. It is, therefore, obvious that the Notod- 

 den product as made in 190G must be deemed unsatisfactory from a farmer's 

 point of view." 



The changes in weight and in atmospheric conditions are illustrated in a chart. 



Impurity of nitrate of soda and tlie use of crude nitrate, S. de Geazia 

 (Staz. Hpcr. Agr. Ital.. J, I (1908), No. 5-6, pp. 258-269).— The author has already 

 reported on this subject with reference to rye." In that rei)ort it was established 

 that the impurities in nitrate of soda were beneficial, but the nature of the 

 impurities was not determined. 



The experiments here reported were with wheat and barley in pots and in- 

 cluded comparisons of various salts found in commercial nitrate of soda — 

 sodium chlorid, potassium iodid, and magnesium sulphate. 



The conclusion i*eached is that the salts constituting the impurities of com- 

 mercial nitrate of soda, except perchlorate of i)otash, are of value to plants, and 

 that within certain limits a less refined nitrate is more profitable as a fertilizer 

 than a purer salt. 



Comparative tests of sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, Bachmann 

 (Landiv. Wchnbl. Schlcs. Hoist., 58 (1908), No. Jf2, pp. 108-112).— The results 

 of 4 years' tests with rye, oats, barley, kohl-rabi, sugar beets, and potatoes on 

 different kinds of soil are summarized. The results varied widely, particularly 

 with the ammonium sulphate, showing that the fertilizing value of this material 

 is particularly dependent upon tlie character of the season, moisture, tempera- 

 ture, etc. 



«Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 39 (1906), No. 6-7, p. 529. 



