30 Sept., 1912.] ]V//ca/ a>id its Cultivation. 551 



It is generally held that nitrate of soda stimulates the vegetative rather 

 than the grain-ljearing power of cereals, and that it appears to exercise a 

 retarding influence on vegetation which, in our climate, must always prove 

 more or less detrimental. Experience at the Roseworthy Agricultural 

 College during the i)ast six years i(i<ide Journal of Agricidtiire of South 

 Aus'ralia, Aug., 191 1) .shows that, under Australian conditions, the nitrate 

 of soda has not stimulated straw and flag growth at the expense of grain 

 yield, nor has it had a retarding influence on the general character of the 

 vegetation and the ripening of the crop. 



Sulphate of Ammonia is a by-product in the destructive distillation 

 of coal, and is obtained from the " gas liquor " of gasworks by neutralizing 

 it with sulphuric acid. The commercial article is a greyish-white crystal- 

 line salt, extremely soluble in water. 



It contains about 20 to 21 per cent, of nitrogen, and is the moirt con- 

 centrated and expensive of nitrogenous manures. If pure, it should 

 entirely volatilize when placed on a red hot spoon. Lawes and Gilbert 

 have used it with great success in the cultivation of wheat at Rothamsted, 

 and have demonstrated that, for every 5 lbs. of ammonia added to the 

 soil, an extra bushel of wheat was produced. It is similar in its action 

 to nitrate of soda, but before being u.sed, it must first undergo nitrification. 



It is more readily held by the soil than nitrate of soda, and is therefore 

 preferable to nitrate of soda in wet seasons and on soils of a light loamy 

 character. On clay soils, it is best replaced by nitrate of soda. The 

 continued application of sulphate of ammonia to soils deficient in lime 

 leads to the removal of some of the lime in the form of gypsum, and the 

 soil becom.es acid and unsuitable for the growth of crops. 



It may be safely mixed with superphosphates, but not with Thomas' 

 phosphate, or manures containing free lime, as portion of the ammonia 

 may be lost. It may be applied, like nitrate of soda, as a top dressing, 

 but should be used rather earlier in the season than nitrate. 



Dried Blood is a highly nitrogenous organic manure, containing about 

 10 to 12 per cent, of nitrogen. It is not so rapid in its action as nitrate 

 of soda, as it must first undergo a preliminary nitrification before it becomes 

 available. It is of considerable value in light loamy soils, and is an 

 excellent manure for market-gardening purposes. 



Calcium Cyanamide and Nitrate of Lime. — In 1898, Sir William 

 Crookes suggested that, by the utilization of water-power, electrical energy 

 might be generated at such a cheap rate as to make the fixation of the 

 nitrogen of the air by electrical means a financial success. 



His suggestion has been adopted, and at Nottoden, the Norwegian 

 Nitrogen Company are now manufacturing nitrate of lime electrically from 

 the nitrogen of the air. 



The fertilizing powers of nitrate of lime and nitrate of soda for equal 

 amounts of nitrogen are approximately the same. Experiments have 

 recently shown that, on sandy soils deficient in lime, nitrate of lime has 

 a more beneficial effect than nitrate of soda. 



Calcium Cyanamide or Nitro-lime is prepared from the nitrogen of the 

 air by causing it to combine with calcium carbide at the high temperature 

 ■of the electric furnace. 



This substance has already found its way to Victoria, and experimental 

 plots have been laid out at Rutherglen to test the efficacy of these various 

 forms of nitrogen. It is stated that the after effects of nitro-lime are 

 far greater than other nitrogenous manures. Experience this season at 

 Rutherglen demonstrates unmistakahlv that it must not be sown with the 



