REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 201 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Precipitation and Amount of Nitrogen per Acre, Ottawa, 1908-1911. 



Of the total amount of nitrogen furnished per acre, 5-271 lbs., approximately 84 

 per cent, or 4-424 lbs. was furnished by the rain, and 16 per cent, or -847 lbs. by the 

 snow. These proportions (though not the amounts) are practically identical with 

 those of the previous year. 



Average Nitrogen- Content of Rain and Snow. 



(Amount of Nitrogen per acre, as Free and Albuminoid Ammonia and as Nitrates*. 



and Nitrites.) 



In the case of the rain, 70 per cent of its nitrogen appeared as free and organic 

 ammonia, and 30 per cent as nitrates and nitrites. In the snow we find 74 per cent as 

 free and organic ammonia and 26 per cent as nitrates and nitrites. 



From the data in the above table, we also find that of the total amount of nitrogen 

 per acre, 5-271 lbs., there are 3-733 lbs. present as free and albuminoid ammonia and 

 1-538 lbs. as nitrates and nitrites. 



THE WATER SUPPLY OF FARM HOMESTEADS. 



What is the nature of this supply? From correspondence and observation, we 

 learn that on the larger number of farms it is still the shallow well, dug to a depth of 

 say 9, 15, 25 feet, in the barn-yard, in one of the farm buildings, near the back door 

 or in some similar location. Such wells are in great danger of pollution, by soakage 

 through soil possibly saturated with excrementitious filth and from surface washing. 

 We have enlarged in many of our former reports upon the menace to health from the 



