REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST 155 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



4. Hydrogen was passed over tlie ashes (5 grams) in a red-hot tube. The gas was 

 conducted into diulte sulphuric acid, which was subsequently made all^aline and dis- . 

 tilled. Nitrogen amounting to 0'72 per cent was obtained. IJnfortunately the furnace 

 at our disposal for this class of work is not very satisfactory as regards obtaining high 

 temperatures, and it is probably owing to this fact that this experiment did not result 

 in a larger percentage of nitrogen. 



However, there seems to be no doubt that the nitrogen of the fresh material exists 

 very largely, if not entirely, as calcium nitride. By paragraph 2, it will be seen that 

 the absence of ammonium salts was proven. 



On keeping the ashes, as in a bottle, it was found that a considerable amotmt of 

 ammonia developed. 



As to how soon such nitrogen might become available to plants we cannot at pre.s- 

 ent Bay, but from the fact that ammonia is so readily formed in the presence of 

 moisture, there seems a strong probability that this material may be found of some 

 value as a nitrogenous fertilizer. 



t 



ASHES FROM INCIXERATOR. 



These are the product of the crematory or incinerator at ^fontreal. In forward- 

 ing them for analysis, the Hon. J. A. Ouimet writes : ' These ashes are from burnt 

 garbage, &c. It is a matter of some importance for farmers and others in the neigh- 

 bourhood to know what fertilizing value they may possess.' 



As received, this sample consisted of fine ash mixed with a Luge proportion of 

 cinders and clinlvers, among which were observed many pieces of glas?, crockery and 

 nnburnt coal. A few fragments of burnt bone were also noticed. 



Anali/sis. Per cent. 



Moisture '45 



Insoluble mineral mattev. ..... 7.')"s;^» 



Lime S'SO 



Phosphoric acid 1'03 



Potash '44 



A mechanical separation gave GG per cent cinders, &c., and 34 per cent fine ash. 



The fertilizing value of these ashes, it will be seen, is extremely small, lx?ing re- 

 presented practically by the phosphoric acid, which the analysis show.s to be in tho 

 neighbourhood of 1 per cent. "We cannot, therefore, regard this waste product as of 

 any importance from the manuvial standpoint. It might, however, be used to advant- 

 age on heavy, plastic clays. Upon such, ashes of this character have an ameliorating 

 effect by lightening and mellowing and otherwise beneficially affecting the mechanical 

 condition of the soil- 



CALCAREOUS DEPOSITS FROM BRITISH COEFMBI-'i. 



Deposits of tufa-like appearance, with a semi-crystalline, more or less honey-comb 

 structure, occur not infrequently in various parts of tho country in or adjacent to the 

 so-called dry belt of British Columbia. As a rule this materS.l is reported as found 

 in the valleys or canyons, apparently issuing from the hillside as a plastic mass, cover- 

 ing possibly a considerable area, and subsequently hardening by simple exposure. From 

 an examination of one of the deposits made by the writer in the Xicola valley last 

 summer, it is evidently formed by the evaporation of waters or springs highly charged 

 with carbonate of lime, held in soltition by carbonic acid. One correspondent writing 

 respecting this deposit, says: 'As the growth of the vegetation in the immediate 

 vicinity of the deposit is very vigorous, the material must be o£ some importance as 

 a fertilizer.* 



