DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 249 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Nos. 12351-2. — These arc two samples of ground limestone forwarded from 

 England with a view to establishing trade in Canada, provided their composition 

 were satisfactory and there was a sufficient demand in agriculture for such material. 

 Our analysis showed 90.07 per cent and 96.52 per cent carbonate of lime, respectively. 

 Although these are of excellent quality and quite satisfactory from the mechanical 

 standpoint, it seems doubtful if importation from such a distance could be prosecuted 

 with profit. Canada has immense areas covered with limestone, and the question of 

 crushing and transportation, so that the material can be delivered to the farmer at 

 a reasonable price, will no doubt be solved if experience shows that our soils generally 

 respond to this amendment. 



GROUND LIMESTONE, LIME-KILN REFUSE, ETC. 



No. 11+019. — From the quarries at Cap St. Martin, Que. The ground limestone 

 was partly as powder and partly as fine fragments of limestone rock. 



Analysis. 



Carbonate of lime 9501 per cent. 



Oxide of iron and alumina -96 



Mineral matter, insoluble in acid 4-14 



The results indicate a limestone of good quality and one eminently suitable for 

 agricultural purposes. It is desirable, however, that the material should be more 

 finely pulverized. 



Nos. 11+155 and llfl56. — These are two samples of so-called ' waste lime ' from 

 Randolph, N.B. Their analysis showed that they contained a large proportion of 

 caustic lime. This product results presumably from the incomplete burning of lime- 

 stone in the manufacture of quicklime. 



Analysis. 



Blue Rock. Magnesia 



No. 11155. No. 14156 



In fine powder 58-60 per cent. 48-22 per cent. 



In coarse powder and himps 41-40 51-78 



100-00 " 1CO-O0 



Carbonate of lime 34-23 " 25-73 



Caustic and slaked lime 43-45 " 30-67 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid 1-50 -19 



Both are good, but for agricultural purposes ' Blue Bock,' No 14155, is. the better 

 by reason of its higher lime-content and its larger proportion in the condition of a 

 fine powder. 



No. 11+111, 'Agricultural Limestone.' — This sample obtained from V.-V. L and B 

 Co., Victoria, and forwarded from Agas>i ;, B.C., was stated to be ground limestone 

 containing about 10 per cent free or quicklime; evidently, as in the preceding case, 

 it is a product of lime kilns. It was in the condition of a fine powder. 



A nalysis. 



Mineral matter, insoluble in acid 4-97 per cent. 



Carbonate of lime , 67-Ftt 



Caustic and slaked lime 21-73 



This' should prove a useful source, agriculturally, of lime, and one from which 

 good results might be expected, especially on heavy clays and sour soils. Its com- 

 position and fine mechanical condition point to a high degree of efficiency. 



