252 LXPER1AIEXTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



Laboratory No. 1311k- — This is the ash from a ' waste ' burner of a shingle mill 

 near Sidney, B.C. An analysis has afforded the following data : — 



Analysis. 



Per cent. 



. Mineral matter insoluble in acid (sand, clay, charcoal, etc.) 19-20 



Lime, present largely as carbonate 12-40 



Potash MO 



Phosphoric acid .92 



While these ashes do not possess as high a percentage of potash as good quality 

 hardwood ashes (which on an average contains from 5 per cent to 6 per cent) they 

 undoubtedly have a fertilizing value. They should be found more particularly useful 

 for leafy crops 1 — corn, potatoes, roots, clover, etc. — on light and sandy loams. Their 

 profitable use would of course depend largely on their cost laid down at the farm. 



Laboratory No. 13521. — From Valcartier, Que. These ashes, presumably, had 

 been obtained by house to house collection and, as received, were quite dry. They 

 appeared to contain a considerable amount of charcoal, scraps of iron, pottery, etc. 



Analysis of (Air-dried) Ashes. 



Per cent. 



Moisture 1-04 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid 41-43 



Organic and volatile (charcoal, etc.) 17-80 



Oxide of irou and alumina 20-90 



Lime 1014 



Magnesia >77 



Potash 2-76 



Soda 1-08 



Phosphoric acid 1-10 



Carbonic acid, etc. (undetermined) 2-92 



100-00 



Good, unleashed wood ashes do not, as a rule, fall below 5.5 per cent potash; 

 this sample, therefore, is of inferior quality. It would seem that these ashes have 

 been partially leached, or contain too high a percentage of sand and other foreign 

 matter. They were being sold at from $8 to $10 per ton, whereas from their potash- 

 content they were worth about $3.50 per ton. The lime and phosphoric acid present 

 are, of course, of agricultural value, but they would not appreciably influence the 

 market price of the ashes. 



POTASH RESIDUE FROM OXYGEN-ACETYLENE PLANT. 



This is the by-product from the oxygen acetylene plant and results from the pre- 

 paration of oxygen (used in welding and other high temperature operations) by the 

 heating together of potassium chlorate and maganese dioxide. The latter is unchanged 

 in the process, merely acting as a catalytic agent and facilitating the evolution of 

 oxygen gas; the chlorate is reduced to chloride. The residue therefore consists of 

 potassium chloride and the insoluble manganese dioxide. Considerable quantities of 

 this by-product have accumulated at several centres in the Dominion. The inquiry 

 is, can this material be used agriculturally as a source of potash, either by itself or 

 mixed with other fertilizers, without injury to soil or crops? 



Laboratory No. 11361. — This sample was from Winnipeg, Man., and was found 

 to contain 70.G7 per cent potassic chloride, equivalent to 44.G0 per cent potash (K2O), 

 all of which is entirely and easily soluble in water and readiy available for plant use. 



Laboratory No. 1S69S. — This from New Glasgow, N.S., and contained 85.27 per 

 cent potassic chloride, equivalent to 53-84 per cent potash (K,0). 



