REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 165 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



have always considered that the great benefit, which all acknowledge as following the 

 judicious employment of manure, is due rather to the organic matter and the con- 

 comitant nitrogen it furnishes than to its percentages of mineral plant food. 



Coiu Manure. — The analysis of this sample is interesting as the manure was from 

 a heap, the accumulation of ten years on a dairy farm. Our correspondent, at Rose- 

 bery, B.C., states that it could be purchased and laid down on his farm for about $2.50 

 I)er ton. 



Analysis of Manure. 



Per cent. 



Moisture 80-90 



Organic matter 15-35 



Mineral 3-75 



100-00 



Fertilizing constituents — 



Percentage. Lbs. per ton. 



Nitrogen A'i 9-40 



Phosphoric acid -41 8-20 



Potash -26 5-02 



Valuing the plant food at prices assigned to that in commercial fertilizers, we 

 find this manure would be worth $1.93 per ton. The plant food on one ton of average 

 cow manure is worth about $2, so that the present sample does not show much deteri- 

 oration. Such loss as there has been through leaching has been chiefly in potash. 



Black Much Ashes. — This sample forwarded from St. Basile Station, Quebec, had 

 resulted, according to our correspondent, from the burning of an area covered with 

 black muck. The request accompanying the ashes was for a report as to their fertiliz- 

 ing value and the best means of employing them upon the land. 



Analysis of Black Muck Ashes. 



Per cent. 



Mo4sture 4-YO 



Organic and volatile matter 6-13 



Mineral matter 89-17 



100 00 



Mineral matter insohible in acid, sand, &c 59 02 



Oxide of iron and alumina 25-70 



Lime 1-28 



Magnesia trace 



Potash -49 



Phosphoric acid 2-94 



Though not equal to the best unleached wood ashes, which contain in the 

 neighbourhood of 2 per cent phosphoric acid and 6 per cent potash, these ashes 

 certainly possess a notable fertilizing value. 



These ashes can be used to advantage on sandy and peaty soils, for all kinds of 

 crops but especially for corn, clover, potatoes and cabbages. Their application may 

 be similar to that of ordinary wood ashes, namely, broadcasted on the prepared land 

 in the spring before seeding and harrowed in. 



Boiler Scales and Flue Dust. — Many inquiries have been received from time to 

 time regarding the possible fertilizing value of the cleanings of the tubes and flues 



