164 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD Vll., A. 19C8 



A correspondent at Pont Rouge, yue., having a large quantity of such muck 

 ashes, forwarded a sample with the inquiry as to their fertilizing value for other parts 

 of his farm. These ashes were submitted to analysis with the following results: — 



Per cent. 



Potash -60 



Phosphoric acid 1-CS 



Lime 21-75 



Although these ashes are not as rich as wood ashes, they certainly possess a very 

 considerable fertilizing value, especially for soils containing an abundance of vegetable 

 organic matter. For all soils in need of lime and mineral fertilizers an application 

 of these ashes conjointly with farmyard manure would be advantageous, as also for 

 root crops, clover and fruit trees. 



SPENT BONE CHAR. 



This material, from the Edwardsburg Starch Co., Cardinal, Ont., is bone char 

 after use in sugar purification and contains a high percentage of phosphoric acid. It 

 is not, however, used now-a-days directly as a fertilizer, for the reason that its phos- 

 phoric acid is not readily converted into soluble forms in the soil, but it is largely em- 

 ployed in the manufacture of superphosphate. 



Analysis. 



Per cent. 



Phosphoric acid ( equivalent to 68-2 bone phosphate) 31-25 



Nitrogen 1-25 



These data indicate a quality somewhat above the average; the superphosphate 

 resulting from its treatment would possess a notable amount of nitrogen. 



FODDERS AND EEEDIXG STUFFS. 



COMMERCIAL FEEDING STUFFS. » 



Every year a number of samples of commercial feeding stuffs are submitted to 

 us for analysis and report as to their nutritive value. These are for the most part 

 representative of the by-products from breakfast food factories, starch factories, beet- 

 sugar factories, elevators, &c., &c. — of which there are many now upon the market. 

 They necessarily vary in feeding qualities according to their source. Some are excellent, 

 being rich in protein and fat, while others are comparatively worthless, being charac- 

 terized by a low protein content and high fibre. Unfortunately many of the latter, 

 in which oat hulls are frequently a predominating constituent, are finely ground and 

 thus the farmer is unable from inspection to judge of their value. For such analysis 

 and microscopic examination are the only means of ascertaining their nature and 

 worth. 



Until such time as there is a systematic, annual examination of all such materials 

 — the desirability of which the writer has repeatedly emphasized — it has been thought 

 well to continue this work, and thus furnish information that will afford the farmer 

 the means to exercise his judgment in purchasing feeding stuffs and to protect him- 

 self against vrorthless brands. The feeds thus analysed do not represent all such ma- 

 terials upon the Canadian market; the time at our disposal has only permitted the 

 examination of those regarding which inquiries have been received and wiiieh Jiave 

 not in recent years been analysed by us. 



