SOILS FERTILIZERS. 729 



The nitrog'en question in Germany, X. Cako ( Die t^tickatnfffraffe in Deutsch- 

 laitd. Iltrlin. lUdS. /v'. (>-l ftyx. (>.i : rcr. in HI. Ziickcniibcnbau, 15 {I90S), No. 

 15, I). 2'i'i). — This Is :\ second unrevisi'd edition of this p:iper. wliifli was jtre- 

 sented before the Polytechnic Society of Mnnich in April. 1H07. It discusses 

 the need of nitroj;en and the supply from various sources, particularly from the 

 air; refers briefly to the Birkeland and Eyde process for making basic lime 

 nitrate; and more fully describes the i)rogress made in the manufacture of cal- 

 cium cyanamid by the Frank and Caro process. 



Valuation and extent of the nitrate of soda deposits of Chile, A. Bertband 

 {Engrais, ;iS (tOOS), Xo. 28, pp. 601, 662; Rev. G6n. Agron., n. ser., 3 (1908), 

 \o. 6-7, pp. 2.'t8-252). — This is a summai'y of a report of the insi)ector appointed 

 by the Chilean Government to investigate this matter. This report combats 

 the idea that these deposits are rapidly approaching exhaustion. 



The great nitrate fields of Chile {Bui. Intenuit. Bur. Amer. Repub. iEnglisIt 

 Scet.), 27 iliXJS), Xo. 1, pp. 26-J,5, figs. 2/).— This article discusses briefly the 

 extent, character, present output, and future possibilities of these fields. 



Composition of some Chilean caliches, F. W. Dafebt (Monatsh. Chem., 29 

 (1908), pp. 235-2.',.',; abs. in Jour. 8oc. Chem. Indus., 27 (1908), No. 13, p. 

 68',). — Analyses of 8 samples of caliche from widely different sources are re- 

 ported and show that in all cases the water-soluble portion contained calcium, 

 magnesium, potassium, sodium, nitrates, chlorids, sulphates, and iodates. " In 

 most cases, perchlorates also were present ; and in the 2 specimens richest in 

 nitrates, small quantities of chromate were found. In no case did the soluble 

 portion contain bromid, borate, nitrate, ammonia, carbonate, phosphate, or iodid. 

 The specimens richest in sodium nitrate contained also much potassium nitrate." 



Nitrate facts and figures, 1908, A. F. B. James (London, 1908; rev. in Chem. 

 News, 98 (1908), Xo. 2536, p. 11). — The book gives statistical data regarding 

 the niiuing and railway companies engaged in the nitrate industry. 



Production of ammonium sulphate and gas from peat, A. B^kank (Ztschr. 

 AiKjitc. Chem., 21 (1908), Xo. 30, pp. 1597-1600; 0.sten\Chem. Ztg., 11 (1908), 

 Xo. 16, p. 220). — Reference is briefly made to a process by which moist peat 

 may be economically converted into sulphate of ammonia and gas for power 

 purjjoses. It is claimed that by this process 2,000 kg. of peat containing 50 

 per cent of water can be made to yield 2,800 cubic meters of gas of 1,000 horse- 

 power hours and 40 kg. of sulphate of ammonia. The great economic im- 

 portance of such a process is pointed out. 



The nitrification of peat, J. I'. Wagner (Dent. Landtv. Presse, 35 (1908), 

 No.s. 55, p. 5S7 ; 72, p. 762). — The utilization of peat for the preparation of 

 niter iK'ds .iccording to the Bazin process (E. S. U., 20, p. 2.'{) and in compost 

 with sewag*' is discussed. 



The nitrification of peat (Dcut. Landiv. Presse, 35 (1908), No. 70, pp. 739, 

 7J,0). — The processt's proiK)sed by Wagner (above) ai"e considered too ex- 

 pensive to b(! profitable under present conditions. 



The nitrification of peat, (}. Xeuiiauss (Deut. Lnndw. /'/r.s-.sr, 35 (1908), 

 No. .77. /». doin. — lOarlier uses of peat in the preitaration of niter beds than 

 thiit (if the process proposed by Bazin are noted, but such processes ;ire consid- 

 ere<l impractical on account of their exiMMisiveiiess. 



On the utilization of the nitrogen of distillation residues, .1. Kffbont 

 (Monit. Hci., ',. ser.. 22 (1908), 11, pp. .',29-.',3'i ; Osterr. Chem. Ztg., 11 (1908). 

 No. 21, pp. 2S.5-288; abs. in Chem. Zentbl., 1908, II, No. 6, p. 5.',S; Chem. Ab.<i., 

 2 (1908), Xo. 18, p. 2597: Suer. Indig. rt Colon., 72 (1908), No. 11, pp. 328- 

 S31). — Attention Is called to the need of practical means of preventing the 

 large losses of nitrogen which occur in distilU'ry w.-istes. and the author 

 describes a method of fermcntutiou with yeasts in ulkuliuc solution by which 



