924 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



violet coloration whon stnuij; iiiimioiiiii is Mddcd in m solution of 1 jriii. of the 

 samiile in f) co. of water. 



The production of ammoniuin sulphate, C. G. Atwatee (Amer. Fert., 29 

 (1908), Xo. G, pp. 19-23). — Statistics of production and consumption of sulphate 

 of animouia in this country and abroad are given. The total consumption in 

 this country in 1007 is stated to have been 121,669 short tons, the inijiorts 

 82,0«)9 tons. The average price i)er ton was $(')1.9.3. 



On the utilization of the atmospheric nitrog'en in the production of cal- 

 cium cyanamid, and its use in agriculture and chemistry, A. 11. I""k.\nk 

 {Trans. Faniday So<:, .) (1908), No. 2, pp. 99-119, pl.s. .9,/(V/.s'. ii). — The more 

 important facts contained in this paper liave already l)een noted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 20, p. 624). 



The ammoniacal fermentation of cyanamid, C. Ulpiani (Gas. Chim. Ital., 

 38 (1908), II, No. .',, pp. 3')8-.',n; ahs. in Chcm. Zentbl., 1908, II, No. 19, pp. 

 1621, 1628; Jour. »S'oc. Chem. Indus., 27 (1908), No. 23, p. 1167).— The author 

 concludes from his investigations that contrary to the opinion of Lohnis, 

 cyaiiimid is not ammonified by bacteria, but easily undergoes chemical change 

 into dicyandiamid, urea, and other products. Dicyandiamid and urea are con- 

 verted into anmionia, the first slowly, the second rapidly. Neither is injurious 

 to vegetation, at least in amounts at which nitrogenous fertilizers are usually 

 applied, and their formation completely destroys the poisonous properties of 

 the cyanimid. 



Experiments with calcium cyanamid, Z. Bonomi (Ann. R. Htaz. Sper. Agr. 

 Vdine, 9 (1908), pp. 31-41). — Using natural permanent meadow which had 

 been fertilized in December with 540 lbs. of Thomas slag and ISO lbs. of sul- 

 phate of potash per acre, three plats were in Febi'uary given calcium cyanamid 

 at the rate of 180 lbs. per acre and three sulphate of ammonia at the same 

 rate. The results were in favor of calcium cyanamid. There were two tests 

 of wheat, calcium cyanamid being comjiared in one with a mixture of sulphate 

 of ammonia and nitrate of soda and in the other with sulphate of ammonia. 

 The applications in each case were sufficient to give about 11 lbs. of nitrogen 

 per acre. In both tests calcium cyanamid produced slightly larger results. 

 With potatoes calcium cyanamid was compared with sulphate of ammonia, the 

 fertilizers being applied as a top-dressing after being mixed with an equal 

 ■ amount of sand. 



In a pot experiment with hemp, calcium cyanamid was compared with sul- 

 phate of ammonia ; the latter was found to be inferior to the former. With 

 corn calcium cyanamid was inferior to sulphate of ammonia in producing ears, 

 but superior in the production of stalks. It was found that calcium cyanamid 

 scorched the foliage of potatoes. This was due to the fact that the finely 

 powdered fertilizer fell on the plant and adhered to it. 



Lime nitrogen and its changes in the soil, E. de Kruijff (Teyfunannin, 19 

 (1908), No. 6, pp. 357-362).— The author briefly reviews the results of other 

 investigations on this subject and reports experiments of his own on the rate 

 of transformation of lime nitrogen into ammonia in culture solutions with and 

 without glucose inoculated with 15 gm. of different kinds of soil, the object of 

 which was to study the part played by soil bacteria in changing lime nitrogen 

 into a form available for plant food. 



The conclusions reached were as follows: (1) The change of lime nitrogen 

 into forms suitable for plant life takes place only under the influence of microbic 

 life. (2) The rapidity of these changes depends upon the composition of the 

 soil. (3) The poisonous effect of lime nitrogen upon bacterial life, and in all 

 probal>i]ity, also u])on plant growth, makes itself felt in a poor soil for a longer 

 time than in a fertile soil. (4) Lime nitrogen, with good management, is equiva- 



