i9io.] Experiments with Calcium Cyanamide. 137 



a somewhat superior result to sulphate of ammonia, so that 

 the fact that nitrate of lime has done better in these experi- 

 ments than nitrate of soda must be attributed to the lime. 



Nitrate of lime supplies lime as well as nitrate, whereas 

 nitrate of soda does not, so that it may be assumed that the 

 superior action of the nitrate of lime is due to the fact that 

 the nitrate is combined with lime, which is a constituent 

 generally deficient in soils of this type. Calcium cyanamide 

 also contains a large percentage of lime, and this has no doubt 

 contributed to the results obtained. 



The main conclusions to be drawn from Mr. Hendrick's 

 experiments are that calcium cyanamide (nitrolim or lime 

 nitrogen) and nitrate of lime are active and effective nitro- 

 genous manures. Calcium cyanamide proved equal to nitrate 

 of soda or sulphate of ammonia as a manure for grain crops, 

 while nitrate of lime was rather more effective, weight for 

 weight of nitrogen, than nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia 

 or calcium cyanamide. This was probably due to the fact 

 that it contains lime in combination with the nitrate, and the 

 results might be different on soils well supplied with lime. 



No noticeable injury was caused to germination by applying 

 calcium cyanamide at the time of seeding, so that there does 

 not appear to be any necessity to apply this manure before 

 the seed when it is used in dressings of about 1 cwt. per acre. 



Both calcium cyanamide and nitrate of lime possess some 

 disadvantageous properties which may limit their use, and 

 neither of them is suitable for mixing with soluble phos- 

 phates. Nitrate of lime also absorbs moisture so readily that 

 it requires to be protected from the air when stored, and is 

 not suitable for use in ordinary manure mixtures. 



The most suitable method of using nitrate of lime is as a 

 top dressing. When so used its hygroscopic nature is an 

 advantage, and taken in conjunction with the rapidity with 

 which it works and its powerful forcing action, Mr. Hendrick 

 thinks that it will be a most useful manure for such a purpose 

 as forcing on a crop which is suffering from an insect attack. 



L 



