REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 153 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



reported upon from a preliminary examination. Since the results so obtained are only 

 partial in their character, they will not be inserted here, but we may include the data 

 of a few samples of which a more complete examination has been made. 



Swamp Muck. 



Ontario, Algoma, Oxdrift P.O., forwarded by James Latimer : — 



Analysis of {air-dried) Muck. 



Moisture 8-01 



Organic and volatile matter 27 "62 



Mineral matter, insoluble in acid 4:9 *00 



Mineral matter, soluble in acid 15 *37 



100 -00 



Nitrogen, in organic matter ; 1 "236 



This muck, though somewhat below average quality, possesses a considerable fer- 

 tilizing value and would prove useful for all classes of soils deficient in organic mat- 

 ter (humus) and nitrogen. If first composted with barn-yard manure, it should make 

 a fertilizer of some worth for garden stuff, or for top dressing grass. 



Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown. — Two samples of muck or peaty soils, for- 

 warded by Mr. Franklyn Bovyer, with a request for information as to their relative 

 value considered as soils, may be here reported upon. 



Analyses of (air-dried) Mucks. 



No. 1. No. 2. 



Moisture 5-02 8-39 



Organic and volatile matter 4G '83 74-65 



Mineral matter, clay, sand, &c 48 - 15 16 '96 



100 -00 100 -00 



Nitrogen, in organic matter 1 - 43 2 "65 



As a soil, we should expect No. 1 to be the better, since it contains a more suitable 

 proportion of clay and sand for most crops than No. 2. It would probably more readily 

 furnish available mineral constituents to the growing plants and, certainly, contains 

 a sufficiency of nitrogen. 



Considered from the standpoint of their nitrogen and humus, No. 2 is the better. 

 This makes it more valuable for composting purposes. 



Both samples are distinctly sour, and would in consequence, for the majority of 

 crops, be improved by lime or wood ashes. 



'Mud' from the Flats at Yarmouth, N.S. 



Nova Scotia. — In the harbour of Yarmouth there is a vast deposit, concerning the 

 nature of which and its fertilizing value information has been asked by several farmers 

 in the neighbourhood of the town. Thus in writing under date of February 20, 1901, 

 Mr. W. T. Sterritt, of Yarmouth, N.S., says : ' This accompanies a sample of ' flats 

 mud,' of which our harbour is full. We request the favour of an analysis, and if it 

 possesses any merit as a fertilizer, we should be glad to know it, for it can be easily 

 obtained here in practically unlimited quantities. It has not, apparently, been used 

 as a fertilizer, but there are many farmers here who are anxious to learn if it is worth 

 applying.' 



