-OILS FKIM Il.l/.l-.KS. 537 



which was added LOO to 300 gm. of a zeolite prepared by mixing cement, fine-ground 

 silica, and ocher, allow ing the mixture t<> harden under water, grinding to a fine pow- 

 der, and extracting with calcium chlorid and sodium chlorid solutions and water. 

 The material thus obtained is designated a potassium-sodium-calcium zeolite 

 perphosphate and ammonium sulphate were also applied. Data showing the balance 

 of nitrogen in soil, fertilizers, and crops are reported, for soils receiving zeolite and 

 those H"t so treated. The results indicate thai the fixation of nitrogen by the zeolites 

 was greater than the loss of ammonia due to the addition of calcium carbonate. 



A new apparatus for the determination of ammonia absorption by soils, 

 Wohltmann and P. Schneideb [Chem. Ztg. } ."■> [1905), No. 60, pp. 810, 811; aba. m 

 Chem. Centbl., 1905, II, No. 8, p. 650).— A graduated tube surrounded with a cooling 



mantle is filled with mercury, the mercury is partly replaced by dry ai nia 



cooled t<> 15° ('., ami a pellet of the soil is introduced into the tube through the 

 mercury at the bottom of the tube. The absorption of ammonia is measured by the 

 change in height of the mercury in the tube. The apparatus used is a modification 

 of that devised by Hilgard for similar purposes. 



The direct solution of the silicates of the soil and the experiments of Dau- 

 bree, L. Cayeux ( Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [ Paris], r,i | 1905 I, No. 11, pp. 509, 

 The contention of Delage and Lagatu I E. 8. k.. 17, p. 226) that tin- mineral constit- 

 uents of the soil — feldspars, etc. — are directly dissolved and so made available \>> 

 plant- and are not decomposed is refuted, as is the claim that the work of Daubree " 

 supports such a conclusion. 



Agricultural charts, .1. Gbaftiatj [Ann. Gembloux, /•< (1905), Nos. 1 />{>. 11-18; 

 .'./>/'■ 57-68; 4 } !>}>■ 196-204; •'- /'/'• ■'• ,) - '''>'>). — A discussion of the nature and value 

 of such charts. 



Soil fertility, J. B. Dandkno {Pop. No. Mo., 61 | 1905), No. 7, pp. 622-625).— -In 

 this article various factors of soil fertility are discussed and an attempt is made to 

 show that soil fertility "is not so much a chemical as it is a physical, bacteriological, 

 and ecological problem." 



The microscopic world and agriculture, L. Grandeau | .1///*. Sci. Agron., .'. %er. 

 in (1905), I, No. ■>', pp. 450-478). — After general notes on micro-organisms, this 

 article discusses the reproduction, multiplication, and nutrition of micro-organisms, 

 the bacterial population of the soil, and nitrification and the nitrifying organisms. 

 The transformation of organic nitrogenous matter first into ammonia, then into 

 nitrites, and finally into nitrates is traced. 



Suggestions concerning legume inoculation, L. T. Clakk ( Michigan Sfa. /•'"/. 

 §81, pp. 228-280). — The history of investigation relating to this subject is briefly 

 reviewed, the practiral possibilities of soil inoculation are discussed in a popular 

 way, and methods of preparing pure cultures and studying the inoculating organisms 

 are describe" 1. 



Experiments on the action of lime nitrogen, E. Haselhoff I Landw. Jahrb.,84 

 [1905), No. 8-4, pp. 597-616, pU. ?). — The preparation of this material is briefly 

 described and previous experiments to determine its agricultural value are reviewed. 



The experiments here reported were made during L903 and 1904 at the Marburg 

 station, and included investigations on the influence of the lime nitrogen on the 

 germination of seeds and on the fertilizing value of tin- nitrogen in the material as 

 determined in pol and field experiment-. The germination experiments were made 

 with clover and mustard see<l in soil and sand to which lime nitrogen was added at 

 the rati' of 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 per cent. 



The results obtained were not uniform, but indicated in general an injurious 

 effect of the lime nitrogen on germination, the injury being lessened or entirely pre- 

 vented in dependence upon the length of time the material was applied before 



"Etude synthetiuue de geologie expe'rimentale, I s 7'.». 



