REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST 139 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Nos. 1 and 2, labelled ' white ' and ' grey,' respectively, and forwarded by General 

 Laurie, Oakfield, N.S. Quarried at Dutch Settlement, Halifax county, IS.S. 



Both are excellent samples, but the ' white " (No. 1) is somewhat the better of the 

 two. No. 1 has also superior value by reason of its greater fineness. 



No. 3. White or grey coloured, manufactured by the Alabastine Co., Ltd., Paris, 

 Ont., submitted by K. McDonald, Ottawa, Out. 



No. 4. Brown or chocolate coloured, supplied by Mr. Manly H. Craig, Perth, N.B., 

 submitted by Kenneth McDonald, Ottawa, Ont. 



Sample No. 3 is distinctly superior to No. 4, though neither is equal to the first 

 two samples considered. 



No. 5. From ' Plaster Kock,' Tobique Eiver, N.B., furnished by M. H. Craig, 

 Perth, N.B. It is of distinctly better quality than No. 4, though apparently from the 

 same quarry. 



FERTILIZING VALUE OF COTTON WASTE. 



This refuse material was from the cotton mills at Montmorency 'Falls, Que. As 

 received, it formed a black, pasty mass and was neutral to test paper. It dried readily 

 on exposure and was then easily reduced to a powder by crushing and grinding. 



Analysis of Waste (as received). 



Per Cent. 



Water 58-66 



Organic matter 15 '41 



Mineral matter (containing sand, &c., 20 -94) 25-93 



100 -00 



Nitrogen -72 



Phosphoric acid '27 



Potash -95 



We doubt if this waste could be economically manufactured into a fertilizer. The 

 greater part of the water would have to be got rid of — a more or less expensive matter 

 when undertaken on a large scale. Secondly, this accomplished, the percentages of 

 plant food would not then equal those in most brands of commercial fertilizers. And, 

 thirdly, tlie condition or combination of the plant food in this ' waste ' is not the 

 most vahuible from the agricultural standpoint : in other words, without treatment, 

 the waste would not readily furnish available nourishment for crops. 



If obtained for little cost, however, it might be converted by the fanner into a 

 useful manure by composting, say, with lime or wood ashes. 



FLUE ASHES. 



These ashes are from the flues or dust chambers of the blast furnaces at the 

 Londonderry, N.S., iron mines. The sample was forwarded by Mr. G. R. Fleming, 

 Folly Mountain, N.S., who thought they might possess some fertilizing value. 



Analysis of flue ashes. 



Per Cent. 



Lime ". 12-16 



Oxide of iron 31-79 



Phosphoric acid -26 



Potash -17 



Nitrogen :23 



