FEETILIZERS. 623 



in rendering the potash and lime of the soil soluble are reported. The most effective 

 agents in rendering soil potash soluble in distilled water v.-ere gypsum and sulphate 

 of ammonia. The substances which were most active in rendering the lime soluble 

 were potassium chlorid and annnonium sulphate. 



The effect of sand and lime on heavy marsh soils, Kl.\usen {Landv\ Wchnbl. 

 Srlde.wig-Holstein, 50 {1900), No. 46,j)p. 794-798, fig^. ^).— Beans, fall wheat, clover, 

 barley, and oats were grown in pots of (1) heavy marsh soil alone; (2) heavy marsh 

 soil mixed with 15 per cent of sand which contained 3.58 per cent of calcium car- 

 bonate found underlying the marsh soil; (3) mixed with 15 per cent of sand free 

 from lime; (4) mixed with marl containing 3.58 per cent of calcium carbonate; (5) 

 mixed with quicklime equivalent to the amount of calcium in (2); and (6) mixed 

 with noncalcareous sand and calcium carbonate equivalent to the amount of carbon- 

 ate in (2). 



Detailed and summarized results are given. They are believed by the author to 

 show that the value of the calcareous sand is due primarily to the lime which it 

 contains. Its moditication of the physical character of the soil is of secondary 

 importance. The sand which contained no lime was valueless and in some instances 

 its use resulted in decreased yields. The legimiinous plants were more responsive 

 on the limed or marled soils than the cereals. In general it is concluded that the 

 effect of the calcareous sand in ameliorating heavy marsh soils can be secured much 

 more cheaply by the tise of marl at the rate of about 6.7 tons per acre. 



Cooperative soil test experiments, J. D. Towar {Michigwi Sta. Bid. 181, pp. 147- 

 157). — Cooperative experiments with fertilizers on corn, potatoes, field beans, and sugar 

 beets at 13 different places in Michigan are reported. The soils experimented with are 

 described and the fertilizers applied and the yields obtained in the different exper- 

 iments are tabulated. "While the results in many cases are inconclusive, in a few 

 instances they furnish the basis for some deductions as to the fertilizer requirements 

 of the M'ils tested. 



Examination of mineral specimens {Oklahoma Sin. Rpt. 1900, pp. 68-72). — 

 Examinations of 141 samples are briefly reported. 



FERTILIZERS. 



On the composition of the gas confined in barnyard manure, 



P. P. Deherain and C. Dupont {Ann. Agron., 36 {1900), JS^o. G, pp. 

 273-291^). — Observations made on 2 comparative!}^ large heaps of 

 manure are reported. The observations included determinations of 

 the temperature and humidity of the heaps at stated intervals and 

 chemical examination of samples of gas collected from the top, center, 

 and bottom of the heaps during August and September, 1899. In the 

 chemical examination of the gas, determinations of carbon dioxid, 

 oxygen, methane (CH J and hydrogen, and other observations were 

 made. The results show that there was generally sufficient carbon 

 dioxid present in the heaps to prevent the dissociation of ammonium 

 carbonate except in the upper portion of uncovered heaps after a 

 heavy rainfall. Aerobic fermentation was alwaA's in progress in the 

 upper part of the heaps and extended to the lower layers when the 

 manure was not closely packed. Wetting the heaps reduced this 

 fermentation. Fermentation resulting in the formation of free hydro- 

 gen was observed only in cases of closely packed manure and was 



