ABOUT POTASH SALTS. 



295 



to feel entitled to state at this early date, judging from 

 numerous communications received, and from the character of 

 the questions proposed, that the fertilizer law promises to prove 

 a valuable instrument for the promotion of agricultural edu- 

 cation among that class of farmers in particular, who, on 

 account of their practical engagements, are beyond the direct 

 influence of our agricultural educational institutions and 

 scientific agricultural literature. 



Encouraged by your kind indulgence on former occasions, 

 I take the liberty to present within the following pages, — 

 besides the results of a large number of actual analyses of 

 fertilizers oflered for sale, — some statements regarding the 

 condition of our important home resources of substances used 

 for the manufacture of concentrated commercial fertilizers. 



I. — Potash Salts. 



The German potash salts are already a recognized promi- 

 nent feature in our fertilizer trade. 



The consumption of these compounds in our agricultural 

 industry has again been much larger during the past season 

 than during the preceding one. 



The supply of the lower grades — natural and artificial 

 kainit — has been apparently equal to the demand ; whilst that 

 of the higher grades, sulphate of potassa in particular, 

 although imported in much larger quantity than during the 

 previous year, became exhausted at a comparatively early date. 



The following chemical analyses give a fair representa- 

 tion of the articles met with of late in our markets. The 

 samples were taken from various lots extensively sold by 

 Boston and New York dealers : 



Muriate of Potash. 



Potassium oxide, . 

 Sodium oxide, 

 Calcium oxide (lime), . 

 Magnesium oxide, 

 Insoluble matter (in water), 

 Moisture, .... 



Found. 



II. 



52.44 



0.80 

 3.00 



53,07 

 5.30 



trace. 

 0.30 

 0.25 



Represented. 



II. 



53.0 



52-53 



