166 EXPERIMENTAL FARMti 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



of steam boilers — large amounts of such material, commonly known as boiler scale — 

 accumulating in machine shops in the course of time, for which, apparently, there 

 has been no use. Though it was very doubtful if our examination would show any 

 appreciable amount of plant food, it was thought desirable to analyse a few samples, 

 in order to have data for the enlightenment of those seeking information on the 

 subject. The two samples examined were from Sydney Mines, N.S., and were 

 described as ' cleanings from the tubes and flues of steam boilers at No. 3 slope.' 

 They are similar in appearance being in the form of black, coarse granular powder, 

 not unlike coal dust. 



Analysis Boiler scales and Flue dust. 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Moisture -71 -28 



Organic and volatile matter 35-79 43-67 



Mineral matter or ash 63-50 56-05 



100-00 100-00 



Nitrogen -20 -13 



Phosphoric acid -14 -08 



Potash .02 .04 



Tlie amount of organic matter is noteworthy, but, unfortunately, this must be 

 largely in the form of coal dust and hence not in a condition to be of much value for 

 humus formation. The material might, however, prove useful on some lands for 

 improving their physical condition, as in lightening the texture of heavy and plastic 

 clays. 



As to fertilizing value, very little can be said in its favour. The amounts of 

 phosphoric acid and potash are so small as to be negligible, while the percentage of 

 nitrogen is not larger than that found in soils of average fertility. 



FODDERS AND FEEDING STUFFS. 



Every winter for many years past we have submitted to analysis a number of the 

 more important feeding stuffs on the Canadian market. This work has been found 

 necessary in order to obtain the information to satisfactorily answer the inqviiries 

 we are constantly receiving respecting the composition and feeding value of the 

 various by-products and concentrated feeds offered for sale. 



"WTiile the farmer or dairyman may feel himself comi)etent to decide on the 

 quality of such well-known and simple materials as bran and shorts, he finds himself 

 quite unable, from mere inspection, to say what the nutritive value might be of a 

 large number of the milling and manufacturing products that have appeared of 

 recent years, and for many of which high prices are obtain^d. The nature of the 

 material may be disguised by fine grinding. Thus, certain feeds, shown by analysis 

 to be essentially oat hulls and consequently comparatively worthless, have been 

 placed on the market in such a fine state of division that the naked eye fails to 

 detect their nature. The same has been found true in the ease of pea meal adulterated 

 with a large excess of jx'a hull. Again some ' mixed ' materials may present an 

 attractive appearance by reason of the presence of a certain amount of cracked corn 

 and yet the bulk of the feed made up of useless materials such as mill sweepings — 

 so that the whole has a much lower feeding value than might be supposed at first 

 sight. And then again there is a large list of manufacturing by-products, as from 

 the sugar beet factory, the starch and glucose factory, &c., some of them feeds of 

 concentrated character and of high nutritive value, and yet many of which are very 

 poor. For this whole class — in which appearance goes for very little — analysis is 



