730 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



it is claimed tlaat almost the whole of the nitrogen is converted into ammonia 

 and at the same time acetic and other acids are formed. Similar results were 

 obtained by using pure or mixed cultures of soil organisms. The active agent 

 in this transformation is thought by the author to be an enzym " amidase." One 

 thousand kg. of molasses treated with cultures of garden soil which had been 

 heated 1 hour at 70 to 80° yielded 75 kg. of ammonium sulphate and 95 to 120 

 kg. of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. 



The preparation and utilization of atmospheric nitrogen compounds, Eyde, 

 Wagner, and Dubislav {Arch. Deut. Landw. Rats, 32 (1908), pp. 55-89). — 

 This includes discussions of the preparation of Norwegian niter by the Birke- 

 land and Eyde process, the importance of the nitrogen of the air for practical 

 agriculture, and the utilization of German water powers for the preparation of 

 nitrogen compounds from the air. 



The fixation of atmospheric nitrogen as cyanamid (Nature [London], 78 

 (1908), No. 2021, pp. 273-275, figs. 6).— The Frank and Caro process is described 

 and reference is made to a number of new works which are being established 

 to employ the process. It is stated that works are being constructed on the 

 Canadian side of Niagara Falls " with a capacity of from 5,000 to 6,000 tons per 

 annum, which it is hoped to enlarge later on so as to produce 40,000 tons." 



On the formation of nitrogen oxid in high tension arcs, F. Haber and A. 

 KOENIG (Ztschr. Elektrochem., IJf (1908), No. .',1, pp. 689-695; abs. in Jour. 

 Chem. Soc. [London], 9Jf (1908), No. 553, II, pp. 940, 9-)2).— This is a second 

 paper on this subject ( E. S. R., 19, p. 1023) . Unusually high oxidation, 10 per cent 

 in case of air and 14.5 per cent in case of mixtures of equal parts of oxygen and 

 nitrogen, was obtained at temperatures above the melting point of platinum. 



On the oxidation of nitrogen in cooled high tension arcs under reduced 

 pressure, A. Koenig ( Uber die Oxydation des Stickstojlfes im gekiihlten Hoch- 

 spannungsbogen bet Minderdruck. Diss. Tech. Hochschule Karlsruhe, 1907, pp. 

 76, figs. 8). — The introductory portion of this thesis discusses briefly the nitrogen 

 cycle and the nitrate question; the theoretical part discusses the question as to 

 whether nitrogen oxidation in the electric arc is of thermal origin. The same 

 question is taken up in detail from an experimental standpoint in the fourth 

 part. The general conclusion is reached that in cooled arcs there occurs purely 

 electrical oxidation of nitrogen. 



The manufacture of cyanamid in France, C. Pluvinage (Jour. Agr. Prat., 

 n. ser., 16 (1908), No. 36, pp. 298-303, figs. -//).— This is a description of the 

 factory which has been established at Notre-Dame-de-Brian(.'on, Savoy. 



On the formation of lime nitrogen, M. Jacoby (Uber die Bihlang von Kalk- 

 stiekstoff. Diss. Dresden, 1908, pp. 86; rev. in Chem. Ztg., 32 (1908), No. 6',, 

 Repert., p. 412). — This records a study of the nature of the process of com- 

 buiation of nitrogen with calcium carbid both with and without the addition 

 of other substances, and of the changes the product undergoes on standing. 



On the fixation of nitrogen by calcium carbid, G, Pollacci (Ztschr. Elek- 

 trochem., 14 (1908), No. 36, pp. 565, 566; abs. in Chem. Ztg., 32 (1908), No. 8.'i, 

 Repert., p. 532; Jour. Chem. »Sfoc. [London], 9^ (1908), No. 552, II, p. 836: i^ri. 

 A bs.. Sect. A—Phys., 11 ( 1908), No. 131, p. 648).— Tests of the effect of potassium 

 carbonate and of vai'ying pressure of the nitrogen on the process of its fixation 

 with carbid are reported. The addition of the carbonate reduced the tempera- 

 ture necessary to fixation and yielded a product of greater fertilizing value 

 (containing potash) than is obtained with the ordinary process. 



Lime nitrogen and its manufacture, E. Kempski (111 as. Landw. Ztg., 28 

 (1908), No. 78, pp. 677-679, figs. .9).— This is a brief general account of the 

 manufacture of this product and of factories which have been esfablished for 

 its preparation in different parts of Europe. 



