462 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



before planting crop, and li.fiOO 11>h. more by applyinji sulphates at time of planting; 

 crop. . . . 



"None of the results show a very marked increase of j)roduct as a result of potash 

 fertilization, yet they do point toward muriate as Ixnng the most etticient in produc- 

 ing an increase of crop. Sulphate of potash stands second; carbonate of potash and 

 kainit indicate negative results." All of the fertilizers furnishing potash in the form 

 of carbonate were effective in increasing the yield. " Cotton-seed hull ashes proved 

 the most effective. . . . The carbonate of potash and magnesia, which is one of the 

 Stassfurt productions, did not seem quite as active at the start, but with the 6 crops 

 it produced a larger increase than wood ashes. . . . The carbonate of potash and 

 magnesia produced on the 6 crops over double as much increase as was produced 

 by the muriate of potash when compared to their respective nttthing plats. . . . 



"The use of lime with muriate and sulphate did not prove of any material advan- 

 tage. . . . The use of lime with sulphate of potash was more effective in increasing 

 yields than wood ashes, while the muriate of potash and lime was less so. Supple- 

 menting muriate with phosphoric acid, and with lime and phosphate in combination, 

 gave [inconclusive] results." 



The results of these experiments as well as of others made at the station indicate 

 that the soil used is not as deficient in potash as in phosphoric acid. It also lacks 

 organic matter and nitrogen. 



No special effect of the potash fertilizers on the <jaality of the product was observed 

 in the experiments reported in this bulletin, l)ut in other experiments at the station 

 on tobacco "it was shown that high-grade sulphate of potasti producetl the best 

 tobacco, and carbonate of potash, as furnished by cotton-seed hull ashes, the next 

 best. All potash salts which contained either much chlorin or magnesia produced a 

 tobacco of poor quality, which cured badly and [showed] very poor burning [prop- 

 erties] . 



"In the tomato experiments, potash had a marked effect in increasing the yield 

 and tjuality of the tomatoes. Tomatoes fertilized with potash were more solid, yet 

 a little more acid." 



Is nitrate nitrogen more effective than that of ammonia salts and is the 

 ratio of 100:90 correct? Baciimaxn {Fi'ih/iiig\'< Laiidir. Ztg., 5,^ {19()o), Nos. 4, PP- 

 133-138; 5, pp. 183-190). — The results of a number of experiments with different 

 kinds of crops are reported to show that when proper attention is given to the time 

 and manner of applying ammonium salts they are often more effective than ni_trates, 

 and that Wagner's ratio of 100:90 is not correct. Early application in the spring 

 seems to be the most important requirement for effective action of the ammonium 

 salts on most crops. There is a considerable after-effect of the ammonium salts not 

 observed in case of nitrates. 



The manufacture of superphosphates and other common fertilizing- mate- 

 rials, L. ScnucHT (/>/t' Fabrikatlon dcs Suj)erplt().'ij)hals mil Biriick.siditii/uiu/ tlcranderen 

 gebrduchlichen DungermiUel. Brunswick: Fricdrich J'ieweg cO Son, 1903, pp. XI-r336, 

 pis. 4, fifjs. 79) . — The manufacture of superphosphates is treated from both theoreti- 

 cal and practical standpoints. The prei)aration of' phosphoric acid, double super- 

 phosphates, Thomas slag, bone meal, precipitated phosphate, and other citrate and 

 citric-acid-soluble phosphates, etc., is also discussed. A chapter is devoted to 

 methods of examination of fertilizers and another to means of preventing accidents, 

 and various tables useful in connection with the manufacture and examination of 

 the products are given. 



A new adulterant of commercial fertilizers, A. Bruttixi [Staz. Spcr. Agr. 

 Ital., 36 {1903), No. 7, pp. 584-590). — It is claimed that the residue from the mother 

 liquor obtained in preparing salt from brines is used in the preparation of fertilizers. 

 Its fertilizing value is shown to be low. 



