EXPERIMENT STATION. 



43 



The composition of these articles, as deduced from the above 

 analytical determinations, may be represented as follows : 



* Reckoned from the Station price of nitrogen in nitrates, viz: 26 cents per lb.] 

 f Potash is valued at 7 cents per lb. 



:j: Assuming agricultural salt, containi.ng 94 per cent, sodium chloride, to cost 

 $10.00 per ton. See Station Report for 1881, p. 53. 

 ** Reckoned from price per cwt. 

 f f Reckoned from price per pound, 6^ cents. 



The term " saltpeter" properly refers to nitrate of potash 

 which in its pure state contains 53.4 per cent, of potash and 

 46.6 per cent, of nitric acid, the latter equivalent to (containing) 

 13.84 per cent, of nitrogen. 837 is the commercial article of 

 fair quality. Refined saltpeter is now quoted at from 7 to 9 cts. 

 per lb. and can be bought in New York for that price in 100 lb. 

 packages. At that price saltpeter can be obtained by consumers 

 in New Milford for from |140 to $180 per ton with the cost of 

 freight from New York added. Nitrate of Soda, also called 

 *' cubic niter," or " Chili saltpeter" contains in the pure state 36.5 

 per cent, of soda and 63.5 per cent, of nitric acid, the latter 

 equivalent to 16.46 per cent, of nitrogen. The commei'cial article 

 usually contains 95 per cent, of pure nitrate of soda, from 1 to 3 

 per cent, of moisture, besides a little chloride of sodium (salt) and 

 dirt. 838 is nitrate of soda of rather poor quality ; containing 

 2.6 per cent, of Epsom salts and rather more salt and dirt than 

 first rate goods do. 95 per cent, nitrate of soda has retailed in 

 the New York and Philadelphia markets this year at about 176.50 

 per ton. In some cases as low as $67.50. 



