SOILS FERTILIZERS. 44 l d 



since tlit- plat receiving the larger amount of water gave a larger yield with nitrate 

 of soda than that receiving the smaller amount. 



Nitrate by-product, Ar\i\\\ [Aba. in Centbl. Agr. Chem., 3$ {1904), Vo. 

 85$). — A product obtained bj the evaporation of water from the holds of ships carr) ing 

 nitrate of soda is f ound on the markel under the name of nit rat.- by-product, h con- 

 sists largely of common salt, but contains small amounts of potash ami 3 to 4 percenl 

 of nitrogen corresponding to L8.2 to 24.3 per cent <>i nitrate of Boda Attention is 

 called t<» a spurious article, consisting almost entirelj of -alt, which i- beh 



under the same name. 



Calcium nitrate in agriculture, E. S. Bellenoi \ i ' 'ompt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Paria], 140 (1905), No. t8,p. //!«>; aba. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 88 

 "No. 518, //,y. f78). Comparative tests of sodium and calcium nitrates on potatoes 

 and sugar beets are reported which show an increase of I . s per cent of starch in the 

 potatoes and 1.37 percent of sugar in the beets in favor of the plats fertilized with 



calcium nitrate as the average of several years' experiments. The calcii titrate \b 



prepared b} the action of sodium nit fate on calcium chlorid, the sodium chlorid *ep 

 arating ou1 on concent ration. 



On some constituents of Manchester soot, E. lwi:< in (Mem. and Proc. \fan- 

 cheater Lit. and Phil. Soc, 19 (1905), pt. 8, No. 14, pp. 10; OJvem. Newa,91 | 1906 , Vo. 

 2876, />/>. 259-261). -A detailed study is reported from which the following averages 

 are estimated : Ammonium sulphate L0.7, ash 19.6, acid constituent- 10.9, and hydro- 

 carbons (benzene extracl ) L3 per cent. 



The Tunisian phosphates, L. Pervinquteke | Rev. Sci. [Parts], 5. aer., ', i 1905), 

 No. //, pp. 858- 861, figa. ■>'). — An account is given of the discovery, character, and 

 exploitation of these phosphates, especially the very rich deposits of < lafsa. Analyses 

 reported show these phosphates to contain from 60 to <>*> per cent of tricalcium phos- 

 phate, 10 to 15 per cent of calcium carbonate, and 1.25 to 2.50 per cent of alumina 

 and iron oxid. 



On the action of organic acids on phosphates, A. Quabtaroli (Stoz. Sper. 

 Agr. l!"/., 88 1 1905), No. 1-2, pp. 83-118; aba. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [ London], 88 I 1905), 

 No. 514, TI, p. 549). — A series of studies is reported which leads to the conclusion 

 that the organic acid- which usually occur in plants tirst render insoluble phosphates 

 soluble and then convert them into dihydrogen phosphates. Any free phosphoric 

 acid w hidi ma\ he produced is converted in the plants into a dihydrogen salt. This 

 is explained by the lower acidity of organic acids as compared with phosphoric acid 

 and by their greater affinity as compared with acid phosphates. 



Potash for mangolds and potatoes on moor soils, II. von Feilitzen s 

 aha Moaakulturfor. Tidahr., 19\ 1905), No. .\ pp. 91 100,pla. 4, fig- ' >• The Author con- 

 ducted experiments with mangolds and potatoes in vegetation vessels placed in 

 ground of I square meter surface area. 



The most economical results in fertilization of these crops with potash on moor 

 soils were obtained by applying the high-grade salts. It was found, and is plainly 

 shown by lithographic reproductions of the crops grown under different systems ol 

 fertilization, that abnormal changes in the vegetative parts of these crops appeared 

 whenever the soil was in marked need of potash. — i\ w. woi.i.. 



Fertilizer experiments with lime, M. Hoffmann | Arb. Deut. Landw. GeaeU., 1906, 

 No. 106, pp. XIV 276, figa. £). — This article discusses the chemistry of lime and 

 reports in detail a series of experiments made from 1899 to L903 on 150 farms in 17 

 different regions of the German Empire under the auspices of the fertilizer section of 

 the German Agricultural Society, cooperating with local societies or experiment 

 stations. 



Of the 150 experiments undertaken only 79 were properly carried oul according 

 to the five-year plan which included one crop of legumes and 2 of potatoes, but 



excluded hare fallow. 



