SOILS FERTILIZERS. 1117 



Experiments on the value of nitro-bacterine, F. J. Chittenden (Gard. 

 Chron., 3. ser., J,5 {1909), No. 1153, pp. 68, 69). — Attention is called to certain 

 errors which occurred in a previous report tending to exaggerate the reduction 

 in yield from inoculated seed. 



Nitro-bacterine, G. Henslow {Gard. Chron., 3. scr., .'i5 {1909), No. llo-'f, p. 

 92). — Beneficial results from watering scarlet runner beans with culture solu- 

 tions of the " nitro-bacterine " are reported. 



Experiments with nitro-bacterine, W, B. Bottomley {Gard. Chron., 3. scr., 

 .'i') {1909), Kos. llo.'f, pp. 91, 92; 1156 p. J i-'/)-— Referring to experiments at 

 Wisley, Wye, and Heading, noted above, the author calls attention to conditions 

 of soil and fertilizing in those experiments which in his judgment account for 

 the unfavorable results obtained. 



Investigations on lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime, A. Sabaschnikoff 

 {Mitt. Landtv. Inst. Leipzig, 1908, No. 9, pp. 77-123; abs. in Chem. Ztg., 33 

 {1909), No. -ji3-.'i.'i. Report., p. 202). — Previous investigations on this subject are 

 reviewed and laboratory investigations on decomposition in soil and fertilizer 

 experiments in the field are reported, as well as investigations on the character 

 and work of the bacteria which cause decomposition of lime nitrogen. Among 

 the more important results obtained were the following: 



It was again shown that a culture medium consisting of soil extract, 0.5 per 

 cent of acid potassium phosphate, 0.1 per cent of asparagin, and 0.1 per cent 

 of grape sugar furnishes a very good medium for decomposition experiments 

 with lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime. Formation of ammonia occurs in media 

 which do not contain asparagin and grape sugar, but the formation in this case 

 is very slow. Heating the lime nitrogen solution produced no injurious effect, 

 l)ut to a certain extent promoted the formation of ammonia. Neither on heat- 

 ing nor on standing was dicyandiamid formed in lime nitrogen solutions. The 

 substance produced by heating is very easily decomposed. It is apparently 

 an isomer of dicyandiamid. 



Carbon dioxid does not cause the formation of dicyandiamid. It does not 

 retard, but to some extent promotes the cleavage of cyanamid. Calcium cyana- 

 nnd solutions which had not been heated were decomposed by pure cultures of 

 bacteria only when absorbent substances were present. This fact is of great 

 importance with respect to the action of lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime on 

 soils of low absorptive capacity, and the mixing of these substances with 

 compost appears to be advisable in such cases. 



The intensity of the cleavage of cyanamid varied widely in the same soil 

 in the course of the year, depending more upon the time of the year than 

 upon the weather. The nitrogen of lime nitrogen and nitrogen lime was con- 

 verted in like amount into annnonia and its decomposition was brought about 

 by the same bacteria. Among the very active organisms in the cleavage of 

 cyanamid was Bacterium eriithrogenes, which also is active in the cleavage of 

 urea. 



The chemical changes in lime nitrog-en when used as a fertilizer, H. Kap- 

 PK.N- {CiHlbl. Jiakt. \(tr.], 2. Aht., 22 {1908), No. 7-10, pp. 281-298; abs. in Chem. 

 Zintbl., 1909, I, N(». .'/, pp. 310, .i//).— This is a iiivther contribution to a con- 

 troversy with LAhnis on this subject (E. S. R., 20, p. 123). 



The decomposition of lime nitrogen. III, F. I..011N1.S and R. Moll {Centbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.\, 22 {1908), No. 7-10, pp. 2r,.',-281 ; nhs. in Chem. Zentbh, 1909, I, 

 No. //, p. 310). — This article reviews previous observations and hyi)otlieses relat- 

 ing to the deconii»osition of lime nitrogen, referring nion- particularly to the 

 work of Kaiti)en ( E. S. R., 38, p. lOL'S) and reports fiutlier studies by the au- 

 thors on the hydration of cyanamid, the influence of the soil on the decomposi- 



