CYANAMID — MANUFACTURE, CHEMISTRY AND USES 59 



X. While cyanamide itself is not directly utilized by ordi- 

 nary bacteria, this fact is of relatively little importance, since 

 the soil bacteria grow in the presence of cyanamide if urea 

 or some other nutrient substance is present; the urea being 

 formed by physico-chemical means from the cyanamide. (See 

 pp. 34, 36, 44, 45, and 57). 



XI. The retention by the soil of the nitrogen formed from 

 cyanamide is under the form of ammonium salts (p. 45). 



