ACTION OF MANGANESE IN SOILS. 
recent 1 work with pot experiments, manganese sulphate increased 
the yield of peas, barley, and radish. Oats were increased 9.5 per 
cent with 60 kilos per hectare. Rape, lupine, and alfalfa were also 
stimulated. The best results were obtained by using 30 to 50 kilos 
of the dried sulphate per hectare. Quantities as great as 100 kilos 
gave less favorable results. 
The work of N. Strampelli, 2 G. Salomoni, 3 G. Bellini, 4 G. Paris, 5 
and others, has demonstrated the beneficial action of the various 
manganese compounds on wheat and other cereals when used, alone 
and in combination with general fertilizers, in small amounts not 
exceeding 50 kilos per hectare. Bernardini 6 showed that consider- 
able increases were obtained in the yield of wheat and corn by the 
use of manganese chloride. 
Sutherst 7 working with corn in pots secured beneficial results from 
the use of manganese sulphate, chloride, and dioxide. The dioxide 
was more stimulating than the other forms used. In v. Feilitzen's 8 
work with oats on a poor moor soil, to which a general fertilizer was 
added, manganese sulphate used at the rate of 10 kilos per hectare 
had no beneficial effects. 
Rousset 8 reports some experiments made by Stoklasa, with beets, 
who secured an increase in yield by an addition of manganese salts. 
Gregoire, Hendrick, and Carpiaux 10 applying manganese sulphate 
found a decrease in yield, but the sugar content of the beets was 
higher. The amounts used varied from 10 to 50 kilos per hectare. 
Pfeiffer and Blanck " conducted some pot and field experiments 
with oats and beets in which they secured an increased yield, using 
manganese sulphate, carbonate, and nitrate. Andoward 12 found that 
manganese carbonate applied at the rate of 270 pounds per acre 
increased the yield of wheat and kidney beans and decreased the 
yield of carrots and potatoes. 
A number of other experiments with manganese salts have been 
made. Many of these tests have proved beneficial, while a great 
many other experimenters have secured negative results. The 
results seem to vary according to the circumstances. Not only the 
mode of application but the manures used influence the results. 
i Bertrand, G., Manganese as a catalytic fertilizer. Orig. Com. 8th Intern. Congr. Appl. Chem., 15, 
39(1912). 
2 Atti del VI Congresso Internationale di chimica applicata., 6, 14 (1907). 
s Manganese elo voiluppo delle piante. Staz. sper. agr. Ital., 40, 97 (1907). 
* Agrieoltura Senese, 31, 14. (1907.) 
6 Giornale di Viticollura edi Euologia, 14, No. 1 (1906). 
8 Bernardini, Funzione del manganese nella concimazione. Staz. sper. agr. Ital., 43, 217 (1910). 
7 Sutherst, M., Manganese compounds as fertilizer for maize. Transvaal Agr. Jour., 6, 437 (1908). 
8 v. Feilitzen, Stimulating effect of manganese salts on crops. Jour. Landw., 55, 289 (1907). 
s Rousset, An. Sci. Agron.,3. Ser. 4. 11,81(1909). 
w Gregoire, Hendrick and Carpiaux, Bui. Agr. (Brussels), 23, 388 and 764 (1907.) 
11 Pfeiffer and Blanck, Beitrag zur Frage iiber die Wirkung des Mangans auf das Pflanzenwachstum. 
Landw. Vers. Sta., 77, 33 (1912). 
w Andoward, A. and P., Action des engrais de manganese sur la vegetation. L'Engrais, 26,915(1911). 
