Calcium carbonate in some soils of Valpantena (Verona), R. De Polo (Staz. 

 Sper. Agr. ltal., 38 {1905), Nos. 7-8, pp. 622-628). 



Contribution to the question of volatilization of ammonium salts in 

 soils, H. Wangnick (Fid/ling's Landw. Ztg., 53 (1904), No. 18, pp. 695-699; abs. in 

 Centbl. Agr. Chem., 34 (1905), No. 10, p. 714)- — Experiments on loam and sandy soils 

 containing different amounts of calcium carbonate show the loss of considerable 

 amounts of ammonia, varying with the proportion of lime, when ammonium salts 

 are added to such soils. The losses observed, however, were smaller (not over 20 

 per cent in any case) than those reported by Wagner as having been obtained by 

 Hals (E. S. R., 15, p. 234). 



Soils and fertilizers, H. Snyder (Easion, Pa.: The Chemical Pub. Co., 1905, 2. ed., 

 pp. X -f- 294, pi. l,figs. 40). — This is a second edition of this work, the first being 

 published in 1899 under the title The Chemistry of Soils and Fertilizers (E. S. R., 

 11, p. 418). 



"In the revision of the text the subject-matter has been entirely rewritten, new 

 material has been added, and the laboratory practice has been made a more promi- 

 nent feature. These additions have changed the scope of the book to such an extent 

 as to necessitate a change of name. The work as now presented includes all of the 

 topics and laboratory practice relating to soils as outlined by the committee on meth- 

 ods of teaching agriculture, appointed by the Association of Agricultural Colleges 

 and Experiment Stations." 



The book gives in condensed form the principles underlying the conservation of 

 soil fertility and the economic use of manures. A bibliography of 95 references is 

 appended. 



Fertilizer inspection, C. D. Woods and J. M. Bartlett (Maine Sta. Bui. 120, 

 pp. 153-168). — This bulletin contains the analyses of 253 samples collected by the 

 station of the brands of fertilizers licensed in 1905. 



The results of inspection show that as competition becomes closer and the processes 

 of manufacture somewhat more trustworthy the fertilizers tend to more closely 

 approach the minimum guaranty, and it rarely happens at present that fertilizers 

 carry much above the minimum guaranteed percentages of nitrogen and potash, the 

 more costly constituents of a fertilizer. In fact the results in 1905 show that over 80 

 per cent of the samples collected were below the guaranty in at least one constituent. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, M. B. Hardin (SoutJt Carolina Sta. Bui. 

 115, pp. 30) . — This bulletin contains analyses of 522 samples of fertilizers collected 

 during the season of 1904-5. "These analyses were published in 15 weekly bulle- 

 tins issued and distributed during the months of February, March, April, and May." 

 Eighty-four samples of cotton-seed meal, previously reported in Bulletin 105 of the 

 station, are also included, and notes on valuation and explanations of terms used in 

 fertilizer analyses are given. 



Commercial fertilizers, II. J. Wheeler et al. (Rhode Island Sta. Bui. 110, pp. 

 47-60). — "This bulletin is supplementary to Bulletin No. 108, and the two contain 

 the analyses of such commercial fertilizers as have been found on : ale in Rhode 

 Island during the year 1905." 



The utilization of atmospheric nitrogen, 0. N. Witt (Client. Ztg., 29 (1905), 

 No. 98, pp. 1261-1264; abs. in Mark Laue Express, 93 (1905), No. 3873, Fert. and 

 Feed., p. III). — This article reviews the various attempts which have been made 

 from the time of Cavendish to prepare nitrogen compounds from the free nitrogen of 

 the air, including the more recent attempts of Bradley and Lovejoy of the Atmos- 

 pheric Products Company, of Niagara Falls, and Frank's calcium cyanamid (lime 

 nitrogen) process. 



It is claimed that the former has proved too costly to be a commercial success. 

 The commercial success of the latter depends upon the possibility of securing cheaper 



