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ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



keeping it warm and bubbling through it carbonic acid. The potash 

 salt (K.CN'.XH.COo) is precipitated in needle-like crystals. The 

 object in using the potash compound is to obtain a fertilizer that will 

 furnish potash as well as nitrogen and thus double its value as a 

 fertilizer." 



The experiments about to be described fell into two series. The 

 first was to ascertain the effect of these compounds on the germination 

 or vitality of certain seeds; the second was to determine the rate at 

 which these compounds were nitrified or rendered available when pre- 

 sent in the soil in various proportions. 



Effect on the Vitullty of Seeds. 



It had been observed by investigators in Germany that cyanamide, 

 if applied when the seeds were sown or only shortly before, had a de- 

 cidedly poisonous effect, retarding germinq,tion and in some cases causing 

 the death of the young plants. To verify this and to ascertain if some 

 seeds had a greater resisting power to the action of the cyanamide than 

 others, the following research was made. The seeds chosen were wheat 

 and peas, representing starchy and albuminous seeds, respectively. 

 These were so^vti in porcelain basins containing each 4 pounds of soil. 

 There were in all thirty basins, of which nine were checks and received 

 no cyanamide compound. To secure uniformity of distribution the 

 compounds experimented with were dissolved in water and then applied 

 to the soils — the quantity varying as shown in the subjoined table. All 

 the trials were kept under the same conditions as regards moisture, 

 temperature, etc. 



Effect of Cyanamide Compounds on the Germination of Seeds. 



