SULPHATES OF POTASSA. 



317 



IV 



Muriate of Potash . 



(H. Hawes, Boston, Mass.) 



Per cent. 



Moisture lost at 100° C 2.50 



Potassium chloride ....... 93.48 



Sodium chloride 4.02 



The three first-mentioned samples represent the current 

 quality of muriate of potash ; the fourth is of an exceptionally 

 high grade. The annual consumption of this particular kind 

 of potash-salt is steadily increasing. A Boston importer sold 

 dui'ing the past season eight thousand bags, and expects to 

 double this amount during the coming season. 



Muriate of potash sold at forty-five dollars per ton, or four 

 and five-tenths cents per pound of potassium oxide. 



Sulphate of Potassa. 



These samples are fair specimens of the larger portion of 

 the high grade sulphates of potassa at present offered in our 

 markets : they are home-manufactured articles, and contain 

 from eight to nine per cent of free sulphuric acid. Their 

 strong acid re-action requires particular care in their applica- 

 tion. A careful mechanical distribution and an early appli- 

 cation to the soil are the safest means to prevent an injurious 

 influence on young plants. Oversight in either direction is 

 known to cause disappointments. 



The experience of German experimenters tends to prove, 

 that, as a general rule, the most satisfactory results are ob- 

 tained by incorporating the potash-salt into the soil during 

 the autumn; only in the case of a light and sandy soil, 

 which at the same time is quite free from lime and magnesia, 

 do they ad\'ise their application in the early part of spring. 



