REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 159 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Per cent. Pounds per ton. 



-Nitrogen -468 9-36 



Potash 2 025 40-50 



Phosphoric acid -108 218 



In September of the present year a sample of another variety of rock-weed (Fucus 

 vesciculosus) was forwarded from St. Andrews, N.B. It was quite fresh when received, 

 and was immediately analysed. 



p. c. 



Water 79-23 



Organic matter 15-23 



Ash or mineral matter 5-54 



300-00 



Per cent. Pounds per ton. 



Nitrogen -172 3 44 



Potash -76 15-20 



Phosphoric acid *04 *80 



The fact that the sample analysed in 1894 contained less water (63 -49 per cent) 

 than the one examined this year will account, in part, for the present percentage of 

 the fertilizing constituents being lower. It does not, however, entirely explain the 

 differences that are to be noted, and we are unable to say whether such are in part due 

 to inherent qualities of the two varieties or to the time of year (and consequently of 

 growth) at which they were collected. Recent investigations conducted at the Rhode 

 Island Experiment Station laboratories go to show that sea-weed gathered in the 

 winter season are richer in fertilizing elements than those gathered in the summer. 



The value of this essentially potash fertilizer is enhanced by the readiness with 

 which this material decomposes in the soil, liberating the same season much of its 

 plant food in assimilable forms. It answers best on warm, moist, porous soils, and 

 may be lightly ploughed or harrowed under to the extent of 20 to 30 tons per acre. 

 If it is inconvenient to apply the sea-weed at once to the soil it may be composted, 

 care being taken that the potash is not lost by leaching rains. 



Eel Grass (Zostera marina). 



This marine plant grows freely and in large quantities in the shallow waters along 

 the north shores of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and in the estuaries and bays of 

 Prince Edward Island. It is generally considered to have little or no fertilizing value, 

 and this opinion no doubt results from the fact that it is extremely difficult to rot it, 

 either in the soil or in the compost heap. Nevertheless it contains notable amounts of 

 plant food, as will be apparent from the subjoined analysis. Its chief uses at present 

 are for mulching and as a material for banking up houses, barns, &c, in the autumn 

 to keep out the frost. 



In the year 1891, a sample of eel grass that had been dried at a gentle heat was for- 

 warded from Haliburton Bridge, N.S., to the laboratories, and yielded the following 

 data : — - 



p. c. 



Nitrogen, in organic matter 1-24 



Ash or mineral matter 21 -90 



Phosphoric acid (in ash, 1 -80 per cent) *41 



Potash (in ash, 13 :28 per cent) 2-90 



In December, 1900, we received from Mr. D. J. Stewart, Aitkens Ferry, P.E.L, 

 two samples, of which he writes as follows : — ' No. 1 is the fresh green Eel grass, in 



