FIELD CROPS. 



325 



Ferchlorate in nitrate of soda, F. W. Dapert {OeMrrr. Choii. Ztij.,.! {lOiKiy., Xo. 

 15,])}). S69,S70). — Examinations of a number of old samples of nitrate of wotla as 

 well as various museum specimens of crude nitrate, etc., are reported, which show 

 that in only two of the old samples of nitrate was perchlorate present, while none of 

 the museum specimens contained this substance. From these facts the author con- 

 cludes that perchlorate is an impurity which has a])peared in nitrates only in recent 

 years. 



Chemical fertilizers, de CotiUET {Engrnix chijiilqne. Pari^i: J. B. BaiUiere <fc 



<SV;(/.S', icV.9.'/). 



Decomposition of bone meal by micro-org'anisnis, J. Stoklas.\ ( Cenibl. Bakt. n. 



r<ir.,J. Aht., H (J 900), No. 16, pp. 526-5Sr>, fig. 1; Boll in. ZtHchr. Zuckerind.,24 {1900), p. 

 627; abs. in Chem. Ztg., 24- {1900), No. 68, Repert., p. 244)-— The results of a series of 

 laboratory and plant-house experiments are reported, which show that the bacterial 

 action in decomposing bone meal varies with the kind of organism and with the 

 kind and amount of carbohydrates present. The practical application of the results 

 is discussed. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Grain experiments: Surface and subsoil or underground mois- 

 ture, A. E. Shuttleworth {Ontario Ayr. Col. and E,i:pt. Farm Ryt. 

 1800^ pp. Jt.Jt.-Jf-8., fig. 5). — In these experiments, surface soil from 

 a field in which roots had been grown the preceding year, was thor- 

 oughly mixed and used in 10 galvanized iron cylinders, 12 in. in diame- 

 ter and 8 ft. long, and so constructed that water could l)e applied 

 from the l)ottom in imitation of underground moisture. The cj'lin- 

 ders were placed in 2 parallel rows. A cotton sheet containing circu- 

 lar holes was stretched over them in such a way that only the surface 

 of the soil was exposed to the sun. Oats, barley, wheat, and peas 

 were groAvn. One cylinder of each was suJjwatered, while the dupli- 

 cate pots were surface watered. The surface-watered oats required 

 43 lbs. of water from the time they were sown until maturity; barley, 

 38.5 ll)s.; wheat, 29.75 lbs. ; and peas, 28 lbs. The water required for 

 maturing the crops in the sub watered cylinders was as follows: Oats, 

 65.25 lbs.; barley, 25.5 lbs.; wheat, 34.25 lbs.; and peas, 104 lbs. 

 The total yields, including grain, straw, and roots, obtained in the 

 different pots arc shown in the table below: 



Yield of crupa groirii. in- surface oiid i^iihiratered ci/liiideri^. 



The surface-w^atered oats ripened 4 days earlier than the subwatered, 

 but the yield of both grain and straw was consideral)ly less. In the 

 case of 1)arley there was little difference in growth, maturity, and 

 yield ]:)etween surface-watered and subwatered pots. The results in 

 this case are interpreted as showing the necessity of surface moisture, 



