292 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



*'The average of a large number of analyses of ground bone 

 (bone meal) gives these figures : 



Phos[)horic acid 21.7 per cent. 



Nitrogen 3.3 *' 



Although the sample you sent contains less phosphoric acid and 

 more nitrogen than the average, the composition is not unusual, and 

 the analysis gives no indication of adulteration." 



Sample No. 249 came from Mr. Atkins marked "Muriate of Pot- 

 ash," but evidently it is kanite. Muriate of potash should contain 

 at least 50 per cent of potash (potassium oxide), whereas this was 

 found to contain onlv 12.19 per cent, which is below the percentage 

 often found in kanite. If this material was sold for muriate of 

 potash, of the grade now found in the market, a deception was 

 practiced. 



Clam Shells. 



Samples of clam shells, whole and ground to different degrees of 

 fineness, were furnished to the Station by Hon. Z. A. Gilbert, which 

 were obtained through the kindness of the manufacturers, the Dam- 

 ariscotta Shell and Fertilizer Co. 



It is not known to what extent this material is offered to farmers 

 for use as a fertilizer, but it is assumed that the composition of all 

 classes of substances that are in the market under the head of fer- 

 tilizing material is a matter of public interest. 



The character of the four samples was as follows : 

 Station No. 



184 Whole shells. 



185 Shells broken in coarse pieces. 



186 Shells ground quite fine. 



187 Shells ground very fine. 



As would be expected, these different grades have very nearly the 

 same composition. The analyses are given below : 



Carbonate of lime 



Sulphate of lirao (hydrated)... . 



Phosphoric acid 



Oxide of iron 



Magnesia 



Organic matter 



Insoluble material (silica, etc.) 

 Water 



184. 



% 

 96.59 



1.11 



trace 



t< 



c( 



1.69 

 .40 



.27 



185. 



% 

 96.09 



.99 



trace 



1.07 

 .24 

 .19 



186. 



% 

 91.36 



1.20 



trace 



1.33 



3.02 



.51 



187. 



% 

 93.09 



1.47 



trace 



1.14 

 1.96 



.82 



