178 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



FERTILIZING CONSTITUENTS IN PURSLANE. 



Per cent. Pounds per ton. 



Nitrogen -219 4-38 



Potash -GGl 13-22 



Phosphoric acid 079 1 "58 



On the assumption that the crop over an acre would weigh 15 tons, by no means an 

 extravagant estiniate, we obtain the following weights of the essential elements of 

 fertility withdrawn from that area by this weed : — 



Pounds per acre. 



Nitrogen G5 



Potash 198 



Phosphoric acid 24 



It is apparent from these data that purslane extracts from the soil very considerable 

 amounts of soil plant food, especially of potash. Analysis shows that forty per cent of 

 the ash consists of this valuable element. 



Besides this robbing of the growing crop, it is evident that this weed uses very 

 large quantities of soil water, thus depriving the legitimate crop of its rightful supply 

 at a critical time in its growth. This moisture-extraction we have come to recognize in 

 recent years as one of the most direct and injurious results from weed growth. 



•FERTILIZERS FOR MAKING COMPOSTS— A WARNING. 



From time to time irresponsible and fraudulent parties endeavour to sell farmers 

 receipts and materials for making composts. These may be useless, or indeed, injurious, 

 but more frequently the fraud consists in misrepresentation and the selling of the 

 " manure makers " at prices far exceeding their agricultural value. On several occasions 

 we have been appealed to for advice and chemical assistance in such matters and usually 

 with the result that a fraud has been discovere'd and exposed. 



In the early part of the present year, letters were received from several correspon- 

 dents in Prince Edward Island directing our attention and asking for information 

 regarding " Kay's process for making manure " and the nature of the material accom- 

 panying the receipt. For the "directions for use " sums were asked vaiying from $10 

 to $20 — the price fluctuating, apparently, according to the supposed wealth of the 

 purchaser, the cost of the compound — to be employed at the rate of one pound to one 

 load of marsh mud, kc. — being $5 per 100 pounds. 



As received, this was a whitish-gray powder, having the appearance of lime. It 

 was strongly caustic and effervesced vigorously on the addition of acid. 



The results of our examinations are as follows : — 



ANALYSIS OF KAY's COMPOUND. 



Moisture '84 



Loss on ignition 2 06 



Sand, clay, oxide of iron, &c 5 • 20 



Lime, as oxide (equivalent to 78 • 98 per cent slacked lime 



or 104 per cent carbonate Df lime) 58-24 



Magnesia small quantity. 



Common salt 4-35 



Potash -58 



Phosphoric acid traces. 



Nitrogen none. 



^o^ 



This material is composed practically of lime, in part slacked and carbonated by 

 exposure to the atmosphere, together with a small quantity of salt. 



The essential elements of fertility — nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid — 

 which alone give value to commercial fertilizers, are, with the exception of -5 per cent 

 potash, conspicuous by their absence. 



