I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 345 



larger quantities of non-nitrogenous substances were admin- 

 istered. 



These experiments showed that the metamorphosis of ni- 

 trogenous nutritive materials takes place in the herbivora 

 exactly according to the same law as Voit established for the 

 carnivora ; and that relative to the metamorphosis of albu- 

 minous matters there is no distinction between carnivorous 

 and herbivorous animals, save that the nitrogenous products 

 of decomposition assume a different form, so that in the her- 

 bivora a portion of the nitrogen takes the form of hippuric 

 acid, a substance which is wanting in the carnivora. 21 A, 

 August, 1871, 728. 



PEOPER KIND OF WATER FOR WASHING WOOL. 



Professor Trommer, of the Agricultural Academy in Eldena, 

 in reference to the importance of the quality and chemical 

 composition of the water used for washing the wool of sheep, 

 whether before or after shearing, calls attention to the fact 

 that the matter to be removed by washing is quite complex, 

 and consists, in the main, of the non-volatile portion -of the 

 sweat, the grease of the wool, abrasions of the epidermis, the 

 dust from the surroundings, and the dirt from the excretions 

 of the animal. It has an alkaline reaction from the preva- 

 lence of potassium, either in the form of carbonate, or in its 

 combination with grease as a kind of soap. Pure water readi- 

 ly dissolves these potash compounds, and the resulting solu- 

 tion is in itself a very good wash ; but when the water con- 

 tains lime, a decomposition takes place, and insoluble com- 

 pounds of lime (either carbonate or soap of lime) precipitate 

 upon the wool and are removed with the greatest difficulty. 

 Hence the necessity of avoiding calcareous water. Professor 

 Trommer mentions an easy way to detect the presence of 

 lime, viz., a solution of soap in alcohol, when poured into a 

 tumbler of water, will make it rapidly turbid whenever it 

 contains salts of lime, while pure water remains clear for 

 some time. When, however, necessity compels us to the use 

 of hard water, the addition of some alkali is recommended, 

 which shall precipitate the lime in solution as an insoluble 

 carbonate. Caustic soda is the cheapest for that purpose. 

 The' author enumerates some of the advantages arising? from 

 the washing of the wool after 'being shorn, remarking that 



P2 



