The new Norwegian industry of manufacture of "lime niter" ( Ugeskr. 

 Landm., 51 (1905), No. 50, pp. 569, 570) .—The paper describes the method of Birke- 

 land and Eyde for the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen by electricity and the 

 manufacture of calcium nitrate therefrom. The company which has been organized 

 for the manufacture of this fertilizer will utilize the power of three Norwegian water- 

 falls to the extent of over 30,000 horsepower.— f. w. woll. 



Nitrate of calcium factory for Norway, H. Bordewich (Mo. Consular and 

 Trade Rpts. [U. &], 1906, No. 304, pp. 245, 246).— A brief account of recent progress 

 in the establishment of factories for the manufactureof calcium nitrate by the Birke- 

 land and Eyde process. 



Utilization of the nitrogen of the air ( Chem, Ztschr.,5 (1906), No. 2, pp. 38-40).— 

 This is a note on a discussion by O. N. Witt of the Birkeland and Eyde method (see 

 above). 



The principle upon which the method is based is briefly explained and some of the 

 practical results already obtained in Norway are given. It is stated that an experi- 

 mental plant, which has been in operation for a year or more, has utilized water power 

 in the production of electrical energy at a cost of 12 marks (about $3) per horse- 

 power yearly. It has produced from 500 to 600 kg. (1,100 to 1,320 lbs. ) of water-free 

 nitric acid per kilowatt year. The daily output has been 1,500 kg. (3,300 lbs.) of 

 water-free nitric acid. 



The production of nitric acid from the air, M. Bodenstein (Ztschr. Angew. 

 Chem., 19 (1906), No. 1, pp. 14-21).— A review of recent progress in development of 

 commercial processes of manufacturing nitrogen compounds from the air. 



Nitric acid from atmospheric nitrogen, F. Wixteler (Chem. Ztg., 29(1905), 

 No. 99, pp. 1278, 1279). — This is a review of J. Brode's book on the oxidation of 

 nitrogen in the high-tension flame, which gives a bibliography of the subject begin- 

 ning with the work of Cavendish and Achard in 1784, Priestley in 1788, and L. Odier 

 published in 1798, who observed the oxidation of the nitrogen of the air at high 

 temperature or by means of electrical discharges. 



The utilization of the nitrogen of the air, A. Neuburger (Ztschr. Angew. 

 Chem., 18 (1905), Nos. 45, pp. 1761-1766; 46, pp. 1810-1814; 47 , pp. 1843-1852).— 

 This article deals with 4 methods of utilizing the nitrogen of the air as follows: (1) 

 Preparation of nitrids, (2) production of ammonia and ammonium compounds, (3) 

 formation of cyan compounds and their derivatives, and (4) the production of oxids 

 of nitrogen, nitrous and nitric acids. 



As a result of his review the author concludes that recent progress in the develop- 

 ment of methods of utilizing the nitrogen of the air has been such that we can view 

 without alarm the exhaustion of the Chilean deposits of nitrates. The large amount 

 of energy, especially electrical energy, required is the greatest present drawback to 

 the commercial success of processes of making nitrates from the nitrogen of the air, 

 but great progress has been made in this respect in recent years and there is reason 

 to expect that still greater progress will be made along this line in the near future. 



On the utilization of the nitrogen of the air for agricultural purposes with 

 special reference to lime nitrogen and its fertilizing value, H. Immexdorfp 

 and O. Thielebein (FiMing's Landw. Ztg., 54 (1905), No. 23, jyp. 787-795).— -The 

 authors report pot experiments with oats and mustard, which gave results confirm- 

 ing in general the conclusions of Frank (E. S. R., 16, p. 759) regarding the fertilizing 

 value of lime nitrogen on different kinds of soils and the best methods of using this 

 material as a fertilizer, i. e., it is not suited to acid humus soils or light sandy soil of 

 acid reaction; it gives good results when applied 8 to 14 days before seeding at rates 

 of 150 to 300 kg., equal to 30 to 50 kg. of nitrogen, per hectare, and immediately 

 worked in, on soil well supplied with lime and regularly manured with barnyard 

 manure; and it is in no case to be used as a top-dressing. 



