340 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



admixture of some carbonate of lime in the form of shells. 

 Its dark color is due to the presence of from eight to ten 

 per cent of partially decayed organic matter. 



CHARLES A. GOESSMANN, 



State Inspector of Fertilizers. 

 Amhekst, Mass., Feb. 2, 1880. 



APPENDIX. * 



COMPOSITION OF SOME COMPOUNDS IN FERTILIZERS. 



One hundred parts of : — 



Nitric acid contain 26 parts of nitrogen. 



Ammonia contain 82.35 part of nitrogen. 



Pure nitrate of potassa (saltpetre) contain 53.4 parts of nitric 



acid and 46.6 parts of potassium oxide. 

 Pure nitrate of soda (Chili saltpetre) contain 63.25 parts of nitric 



acid. 

 Chloride of potassium contain 52.4 parts of potassium, 63.1 parts 



of potassium oxide, and 47.6 parts of chlorine. 

 Pure sulphate of potassa contain 54.9 parts of potassium oxide 



and 46 parts of sulphuric acid. 

 Bone phosphate (tricalcic phosphate) contain 46 parts of phos- 

 phoric acid and 54 parts of calcium oxide (lime). 

 Calcined gypsum contain 41 parts of calcium oxide (lime) and 



59 parts of sulphuric acid. 

 Uncalcined pure gypsum contain 32.5 parts of calcium oxide 



(lime), 46.5 parts of sulphuric acid, and 21 parts of water. 

 Carbonate of lime contain 56 parts of calcium oxide (lime) and 



44 parts of carbonic acid. 

 Sulphate of magnesia (free of water) contain 33.3 per cent of 



magnesium oxide (magnesia) and 66.6 per cent of sulphuric 



acid. 



C. A. G. 



The Report was accepted. 



Mr. Grinnell then submitted the following 



REPORT ON FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. 



On the fourth day of January, 1879, the Franklin-county 

 Agricultural Society resolved itself into the Franklin Farm- 

 ers' Institute, with the same officers, and appointed the first 

 meeting for Jan. 21. 



On that day over fifty farmers assembled in the grand- 



