114 



Gas-lime is a bye-product in the purification of illuminating gas. The gas in 

 passing through or over beds of slaked lime loses the greater quantity of its suljihur, 

 converting the lime into sulphide of lime. This sulphide, although a good insecticide 

 and destroyer of fungi, is, in quantities, deleterious to vegetation. If, hc'ever, fiesh 

 gas-lime is exposed to the air this sulphide becomes oxidized into sulphite, and final I}- 

 into sulphate of lime, or gj^psum, the properties of which have already been described. 

 After a lengthy exposure, which brings about the conversion of the sulphur com- 

 pounds into the valuable form of sulphate, the use of gas-lime is attended with profit, 

 it will be found of particular value to those crops that have been mentioned as being 

 specially benefited by gypsum, and to soils natujally deficient in lime. To this end, 

 therefore, ii is advised that it be spread upon the fields in the autumn to the amount of 

 two or more tons per acre and ploughed in the following spring, when it will have 

 lost the greatei' portion of its water and the sulphur compounds will bu converted 

 into sulphate. The exact amount to be applied pei" acre must vaiy according to cir- 

 cumstances. To land naturally deficient in lime five tons is not considered too much, 

 but on ordinary soils a dressing of two tons per acre may be used, as above recom- 

 mended, with perfect safety. Owing to the variation in the composition of different 

 samples of this material, as produced at the gas-works, more definite instructions as 

 to the quantity to be tipplied cannot be given. 



Kecent experiments in Germany have gone to show that gas-lime when com- 

 posted with gaiden refuse or with barn-yard manure is beneficial in helping to 

 retain the nitrogen of these substances. For composting pui-poses, it is desirous that 

 the gas-lime be first well exposed, as fiesh or caustic lime has a tendency to destroy 

 the nitrogenous matter. For ameliorating the condition of stiff clays and liberating 

 as plant food their inorganic constituents, foi- rendering more compact the texture 

 of sandy loams and for rendering available the nitrogen of peaty soils, gas-lime does 

 good service, both chemically and mechanically. 



WOOL WASTE OR EFFUSE FEO^M A WOLLEN MILL. 



At the request of the Hon. Chares P^loquin, of St. Hyacinthe, Que., an analy.-is 

 has been made of a sample of the above meterial, to ascertain its value as u fertilizer. 

 My results are as follows : — 



Analysis of Wool Waste. 



Per cent. 



Water 1'S6 



Organic and volatile matteis 32-24 



Clay and sand (insoluble in acids) 42-84 



Oxide of iron and alumina 8*17 



Lime 1.58 



Mngnesia -8.3 



Potash 3-56 



Pho^phoric atjm '21 



Soluble silica i*t)4 



Carbonic acid &c. (undetermined) 1"07 



100-00 



Nitrogen, in organic matter I'Sl 



The fertilizing elements would therefore be, per ton of 2,000 Ib^. 



Lb.q. 



Phosphoric acid 4*2 



Potash 71-2 



Nitrogen 26-2 



