GERMAN POTASH-SALTS. 



317 



I. 



Potash-Salts. 



The importation of the German potash-salts has been again 

 larger during the past than the previous years. Among the 

 high grades, the muriate of potash has been most exten- 

 sively used, on account, apparently, of its reliable character 

 during the past, as well as by its comparatively low price. The 

 high grades of the sulphates of potassa have been largely 

 supplied by home-manufactured articles, produced from the 

 muriate of potash by means of sulphuric acid. It is to be 

 regretted, in the interest of our present state of agricultural 

 investigations, that higher grades of potash-salts — containing 

 a liberal percentage of sulphate of magnesia, instead of 

 chloride of sodium, or sulphate of soda — are not offered for 

 sale in desirable quantities and at acceptable prices. The 

 prospect held out at an early period of the present year, to 

 offer an article for sale before the close of season which 

 would contain 80 per cent of muriate of potash and 10 per 

 cent of sulphate of magnesia, has not been realized. Muri- 

 ate of potash, containing from 80 to 85 per cent of that 

 compound, which is equal to from 50 to 53.5 per cent of po- 

 tassium oxide, has been sold at from forty-five to fifty dollars 

 per ton of two thousand pounds ; in retail, at three cents per 

 pound. 



Muriate of Potash. 



Potassium oxide 

 Sodium oxide 

 Insoluble matter 

 Moisture 



Per cent. 



53.50 



6.37 



.20 



2.00 



This sample consisted of 85 per cent of chloride of potas- 

 sium and 12.4 per cent of chloride of sodium, and is thus a 

 very good specimen of its kind. 



