38 



Experiments with Lime Nitrogen, [april, 



the accumulation of debts on properties and for the erection of 

 buildings. Up to the end of 1904, ^^463,000 had been assigned 

 for this purpose. Certain private associations have also been 

 formed to purchase properties from owners, and to undertake 

 the settlement and division with the help of the General Com- 

 mittees. One of these, the Berlin Land Bank, though it does 

 not confine its business to small holdings, has established a con- 

 siderable number on the properties passing through its hands. 

 For instance, one estate, of some 8,400 acres, included after 

 subdivision six good-sized farms, eleven holdings above 62 acres, 

 thirty-five from 25 to 62 acres, forty-seven from 12^ to 25 acres, 

 twenty-six from 6^ to I2| acres, and thirty-three below 6J acres. 

 After the redistribution, the population had increased from 915 

 to 1,456 persons, and the number of horses, cattle, and pigs had 

 doubled. In the case of another estate, to which reference is made, 

 the population is stated to have increased from 232 to 600 per- 

 sons, and in this case the live stock before the settlement 

 numbered 76 horses, 174 cattle, 178 pigs, and 406 head of poultry, 

 figures which were increased after the holdings had been allotted 

 to 121 horses, 480 cattle, 960 pigs, and 1,500 head of poultry. 



Numerous experiments have been carried out in Germany 



for the purpose of testing the effect of the new chemical manure, 



"lime nitrogen "* {Kalkstickstoff), which is 



Experiments with the product of nitroe^en and calcium carbide. 

 Lime Nitrog-en. . . , . , . 



{Calcium nitrogen is obtained from the atmos- 



Cyanauiide.) phere by passing air through vertical 

 retorts or cylinders containing copper 

 shavings, and heated to a temperature of about 400 deg. C. ; 

 in passing through these retorts the oxygen of the air is taken 

 up by the copper, the nitrogen is then conveyed in pipes 

 to a retort heated by an electric furnace and filled with calcium 

 carbide. The nitrogen is absorbed by the carbide and forms 

 calcium cyanamide. This substance is being manufactured by 

 the Cyanid Gesellschaft of Berlin, and supplies can probably be 

 obtained for experimental purposes. The German Agricultural 

 Society have made arrangements for the supply of limited 



* Journal, March, 1904, p. 506, and May, 1905, p. loi. 



