REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 165 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



necessarily be somewhat variable, but there are limits within which all genuine uu- 

 leached ashes should be found. Exposure and leaching will lower the percentage of 

 potash and increase the proportion of water, while careless collection or the inten- 

 tional addition of sand or other inert matter will further lessen their value. For 

 these reasons it would, therefore, be advisable to purchase only on guaranteed 

 analysis. 



Since wood ashes sell for less than $10 per ton, their examination is not made 

 with that of other fertilizers by the Inland Revenue Department, under the Fertilizer 

 Act. This fact furnishes an additional reason for the necessity of farmers and 

 orchaixiists, when purchasing car lots, insisting on a certified statement as to the 

 fertilizing value of the ashes, or else taking a representative sample and having it 

 submitted te analysis by a chemist of repute. 



We are not of the opinion that there is much intentionai adulteration in Canada, 

 but it is certainly true that occasionally very poor samples have been received by us 

 from correspondents. A notable case, illustrating this fact, is the following: — In 

 May of the current year, a correspondent in Waterville, IST.S., asked us to examine a 

 sample of ashes from a carload which he and other fanners were buying together. 

 Though such an examination does not come within the regular scope of our work, the 

 circumstances as stated seemed, on investigation, to warrant us in making an excep- 

 tion, and the analysis was made. The data are as follows: — 



Per cent. 



Moisture 26-93 



Insoluble mineral matter 5 82 



Potash 2-59 



Phosphoric acid ' ^ 



These figures should be compared with the subjoined, which are the averages 

 obtained by the Massachusetts Experiment Station from the analysis of 476 samples 

 of Canadian hardwood ashes, sold in that state : 



Per cent. 



Moisture 10 64 



Insoluble mineral matter 14-22 



Potash 5-37 



Phosphoric acid 1 "52 



In our laboratories we have found a variation in apparently genuine samples from 

 5 to 12 per cent potash, and we are of the opinion that good, unleached ashes do 

 not, as a rule, fall below 5-5 per cent potash. It is obvious, therefore, in the case 

 under consideration that a loss of approximately 50 per cent of potash had taken 

 place by exposure or by intentional leaching. In other words, valuing the potash at 

 6c. per pound, a ton of ashes analysing 5^ per cent potash would be worth for potash 

 alone $6.60, while the Waterville sample would only be worth $3.11 per ton. It is 

 evident from this consideration that the question of composition is worthy of attention 

 on the, part of those who purchase this fertilizer. 



WOOL WASTE. 



As pointed out in our report for 1890, this material has frequently a notable 

 value as a fertilizer from the amounts of nitrogen and potash it contains. Thus, in 

 a sample then analysed, we found 1 '31 per cent nitrogen, and 3-56 per cent potash. 

 That this waste product, however, is quite variable will be obvious on comparing these 

 data with those about to be given, and which have recently been obtained on the an- 

 alysis of a sample from the Oxford Mills, N.S. 



