SOrLS — FERTILIZERS. 951 



the value of inoculation, and reports the results of tests of L9 samples of cultures of 

 uitrogen-fixing bacteria obtained in the open market. These results sho^ thata 

 large proportion of these cultures were either of | r quality or worthless. 



The fertilizing- value of atmospheric nitrogen preparations, M. Hoi i m \n\ 

 [Mitt Deut. Landw. GeseU., ;i {1906), No. 6, pp. ',.; ;>;<. A summar) is given of 

 information relating to methods of preparing and the fertilizing value of "N" 

 fertilizer, lime uiter, lime nitrogen, and similar compounds, prepared by various 

 processes from the nitrogen of the air. 



Some experiments with lime nitrogen on mineral and moor soils and 

 investigations on the decomposition of calcium cyanamid in various kinds of 

 soil, II. von Feilitzen i Verhandl. GeseU. Deut. Naiurf. a. Aerzte, 76 [1904 ■ TI, 

 l. Abt., />/>. 151 159; abs. in Chem. Centbl, 1906, 1. No. 7, pp. 5 I entbl. Agr. 



Chem., 35 (1906), No. ?, p. 137). — The substance of this paper has been noted from 

 another Bource I K. S. R., 17, p. 17 ). 



Barnyard manure, A. Vivien (Monxt. Sci., /'. ser., 19 i 1905), No. /. pp. ,. 

 abt. in Chem. Centbl., 1905, II. No. .'<>, p. 1507). -The results of studies of the influ- 

 ence of various substances, such as gypsum ("_' per cent), chalk (2 per cent), starch 

 (2 percent), lime refuse from beet-sugar manufacture (3 percent), formol (0.5 per 

 cent (, superphosphate (2 per cenl l, iron sulphate I 1 per cenl i, sulphuric acid n ."> 

 per rent i, roasted pyrites, mineral phosphates, nitrate of soda l I per cenl |, etc., on 

 the transformation of nitrogen compounds in manure are reported. 



The smallest Loss of ammonia was observed in case of gypsum. Superphosphate, 

 iron sulphate, and sulphuric acid were less effective than was expected. The great- 

 est losses occurred in untreated manure and in that to which chalk and lime refuse 

 were added. In untreated manure and in thai treated with mineral phosphate, 

 roasted pyrites, sulphuric acid, crude potash, starch, and formol considerable amounts 

 of nitrate were formed; in manure treated with superphosphate, iron sulphate, gyp- 

 suiu. chalk, and lime refuse only traces were found, and when sodium nitrate was 

 added it was Largely decomposed and Lost. 



The loss of dry matter in manure kepi for 3 mouths in casks varied from L8.22 

 to 38.13 per cent, and of total nitrogen from L2.07 to 23.72 per cent, except in case 

 of manure to which sodium nitrate was added, in which the loss was 31.21 per cent. 

 The use of acid substances did not reduce the loss. The ammonia thus fixed was 

 apparently easily nitrified and later denitrified and lost. 



Litter and nitrogen, R. Hornbergek (Ztechr. Forst u. Jagdw., 31 (1905), p. 71; 

 aba. ni Centbl. Agr. Chem., 34 I 1905), No. 11, pp. 726, 721 ).— Pol experiments with 

 leaves of various kinds to test the accuracy of Henry's conclusion | E. S. R., 16, 

 p. 444) that dead forest leaves have the power of fixing appreciable amounts of atmos- 

 pheric nitrogen are reported. The experiments extended over a year, and in only 2 

 cases out of 7 was there any L r ain of nitrogen. The results therefore do not confirm 

 Henry's conclusion. 



Crude ammonia, Guerrapain l Bui. Agr. Algerie et lunisk, li (1905), No. 22, pp. 

 506-509). — The origin, character, and agricultural uses of aby-producl obtained in 

 the manufacture of gas by passing the impure gas through a mixture of lime, iron 

 sulphate, and sawdust, the mixture afterwards being dried and known as crude 



ammonia, are briefly discussed. 



The material is shown to contain from 1 t<» in per cent nitrogen in form of ammo- 

 nium sulphate and of cxauids. It is of value as a fertilizer, hut on account of the 



poisonous cyan ids and sulphur compounds present it must be applied some time 3 

 or 4 months — he fore seeding, in order to secure thorough oxidation of the poisonous 

 compounds. It has been used successfully on su'_ r ur beets in amounts furnishing 7">. 

 to 100 kg. of nitrogen per hectare. 



31080— No. 10—06 3 



