358 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



recently introclnced potash resources for manurial purposes. 

 The former has proved the preferable compound where the 

 presence of large quantities of chlorides is known to affect 

 seriously the quality of the vegetable growth, as in the case 

 of tobacco, etc. ; whilst the latter recommends itself, on 

 account of from 70 to 75 per cent, of muriate of potash, in 

 presence of from 15 to 20 per cent, of sulphate of magnesia, 

 for deep-rooting forage plants. 



A detailed discussion of the character and special fitness 

 of the various brands of German potash plants for agricul- 

 tural purposes can be found in the annual report of the 

 Secretary of the Mass. State Board of Agriculture for 

 1874. 



Dissolved Boneblack. 



(Of Bowker Fertilizer Co., Boston, Mass.) 



Per cent. 



Moisture, at 100° C, 20.78 



Total phosphoric acid, 15.66 



Soluble i^hosijhoric acid, 12.76 



Insoluble i:»hosplioric acid, 2.90 



Valuation per two thousand pounds, $31.55. 



Ashes from Detroit. 



(Sent by John Lane, Esq., of East Bridgewater, Mass.) 



Per cent. 



Moisture, at 100° C, 6.39 



Calcium oxide, 84.15 



Potassium oxide, 1.00 



Phosphoric acid, 2.05 



Magnesium oxide, 3.72 



Insoluble matter, . . 22.10 



The ash had evidently been leached before it entered the 

 market. 



Turf. 

 (Sent on by Horace Graves, Amherst, Mass.) 



1. Turf from upper layer, consisting largely of leaves, roots and mosses, — 

 brown colored and fibrous. 



2. Turf from lower layer, consisting of a brown peat-like mass, taken from four 

 feet below the surface, and exposed to the air one year. 



1 2 



Moisture, at 100° C, 25.58 13.00 



Organic and volatile matter, .... 96.72 90.57 



Ash constituents, 3.28 9.43 



Nitrogen (in wet peat), ... . 1.91 1.97 



