Ll.-i'OUT OF THE CHEMIST 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Moisture 8-37 per cent. 



Organic and volatile matter 35-74 " 



Clay, sand, etc. (by difference) 55-89 " 



100-00 " 



191 



Fertilizing constituents — 



Nitrogen 1-38 " 



Phosphoric acid -34 " 



Potash .22 " 



Lime 2-92 " 



This might also be classed as a soil, though considerably richer in vegetable 

 matter than the foregoing sample. Its successful culture would, in the first place,' 

 depend upon good drainage. 



PEAT. 



Two samples of prepared peat from the Government bog at Alfred, Ontario, were 

 submitted to analysis with a view to determining their agricultural value. 



Analysis of Peat. 



Moisture 



Organic and volatile matter. 

 Mineral matter or ash .... 



Nitrogen . 



Composition of Ash — 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid 



Oxide of Iron and Alumina 



Lime 



Phosphoric Acid 



Potash 



No. 1. 



Laboratory 

 No. 8661. 



1-28 



19 

 28 

 23 



•30 

 ■30 



■80 



•so 



•65 



No. 2. 



Laboratory- 

 No. 8662. 



127 



17 

 20 

 25 



•46 

 •20 



00 

 •60 

 •48 



A sample of the ash of peat, as produced in an open grate, was forwarded with an 

 inquiry respecting its manurial value as compared with wood ashes. It gave the fol- 

 lowing data : — 



Lime 26-45 per cent. 



Phosphoric acid -80 



Potash -69 



Though distinctly inferior to good, unreached wood ashes, it is evident that the 

 peat ashes have a fertilizing value, and would be found more particularly useful for 

 3oils deficient in lime. 



