DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 259 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



NITRATE OF LIME ( LIME-NITRATE, LIME-NITRE, ETC.) 



This is a fertilizer of recent introduction, containing from 12 to 14 per cent of 

 nitrogen present in a highly soluble and available form. This material is not pure 

 calcium nitrate but is essentially a mixture of this compound and lime. Its manu- 

 facture on a large scale is now carried on in several European countries — notably 

 in Norway, Austria and France — and though there are several processes in operation, 

 they are all the same in principle — the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen by means 

 of an electric arc or flame and the subsequent neutralization of the nitric acid so 

 formed by lime. 



As yet, there is but little experience on this continent with lime nitrate, but 

 experiments of an extensive nature which have been in progress for so many years, 

 in England and other European countries, go to show that its nitrogen, unit for unit, 

 is just as valuable as that of nitrate of soda. It is considered as among the most 

 promising of the competitors of Chili saltpetre in the fertilizer markets of the world. 

 As a source of immediately assimilable nitrogen it is capable of wide application, 

 but it is thought it will be found, by reason of its basic character, particularly 

 suitable for peaty and clay soils. 



A sample submitted for our examination, forwarded from London, England. 

 Laboratory No. 1-3179, and stated to contain ' about 13 per cent nitrogen ' was analyzed 

 and found to contain 12-984 per cent nitrogen, of which 12-954 per cent was readily 

 soluble in water. Its concentrated and highly available character will be apparent 

 from these data. The fertilizer, as received, was in the form of a coarse, grey powder, 

 not unlike in appearance to finely crushed shale, and was readily soluble. 



INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. 



FORMALDEHYDE. 



There is in these days, a very large and ever-increasing use in agriculture of 

 formaldehyde, chiefly in the treatment of wheat for the prevention of smut. For 

 this purpose, in many districts of the Canadian Northwest, it has almost entirely 

 taken the place of bluestone (copper sulphate) — the time-honoured smut preventive. 

 This substitution has much to commend it, for, compared with the bluestone 

 solution, that of formaldehyde is equally efficacious in destroying smut, is more 

 easily prepared (since dilution only is necessary), and is less injurious to the vitality 

 of the treated grain. 



We have, from time to time since 1902, analyzed samples from the various brands 

 on the Canadian market and the results have shown that the manufacturers are put- 

 ting out an article of very fairly uniform strength and conforming to the guarantee. 

 Occasionally a sample is sent in that has proved below strength, but such, it has 

 always been found, had been purchased from bulk and not in the original container. 

 Our records, as remarked, do not show that adulteration exists to any degree, never- 

 theless it would appear that both manufacturer and user would be better protected 

 if the formaldehyde were sold in sealed bottles, say of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pounds each, 

 rather than retailed from bulk. 



A sample received during the year (Laboratory No. 11257) from Delmas, Sask., 

 and which had been purchased from bulk (manufacturers unknown) was found on 

 analysis to contain 31.82 per cent formaldehyde. This is decidedly below standard 

 strength, which calls for approximately 37.3 per cent by weight or 40 per cent by 

 volume. 



Another sample (Laboratory No. 11383), forwarded from Parr, Alta., was found 

 to contain 3"8.05 per cent formaldehyde and was therefore in conformity with the 

 guarantee. 



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