Quarterly Report of the Chemical Committee. 547 



Composition of a Sample of Barley Manure, sent hy Mr. W. G. Duncan. 



Moisture 19-66 



Water of combination and *organic matter 15 '30 



Bi-phosphate of lime (mono-basic phosphate of linir) 11 • 14 

 Equal to bone phosphate (tri-basic phosphate of lime) 

 rendered soluble by acid (17 '45). 



Insoluble phosphates 4 "45 



Sulphate of lime ) 42-0'' ' 



Alkaline salts and magnesia ) "^ 



Insoluble siliceous matter 7 "40 



100-00 



*Containing nitrogen 1 • 71 



Equal to ammonia 2-07 



Mr. Duncan communicated this analysis and report to the 

 agent from whom he had bought the manure, and received the 

 following reply, which the makers addressed to the agent, after 

 having had a sample of the manure for analysis by their own 

 chemist : — 



" April 2, 1874. 



" Deae Sirs, — I got the sample, and last night got our chemist's report, 

 which I regret extremely to say quite confirms Dr. Voelcker's. Nothing but 

 carelessness on the part of the men at factory could have made it ix)ssible for 

 such manure to be sent out, as it is evident they have not used the ingredients 

 in their proper proportions. We have severely reprimanded our foreman, and 

 told him that, if anything of the kind occurs again, he will be instantly dis- 

 missed. To yourselves and customer we must express our sincere regret, and 

 can only add that we shall be most happy to take back the manure, pay all 

 expenses he may have incurred, and supply him with other manures in its 

 place. 



" We are, dear Sirs, yours truly, 



* * * Manager." 



2. — Another sample of manure, invoiced as " Phosphatic 

 Cereal Manure," at 71. per ton, was also sent by Mr. W. G. 

 Duncan, of Bradwell, Stony Stratford, who had bought it of an 

 agent. 



With regard to this manure, which was guaranteed to contain 

 25 per cent, of phosphates, in soluble form, and about 2 per cent^ 

 of ammonia. Dr. Voelcker reported as follows : — 



" Analytical Laboratory, 11, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E.G., 

 " London, April 13, 1874. 



" Dear Sir, — I beg to enclose a copy of an analysis of the sample of 

 manure which you call a ' cereal manure.' This is a misnomer, for you will 

 notice that the manure contains but little ammonia, an essential constituent 

 of every good cereal manure — ammonia, or at all events nitrogen in some form 

 or other. Tlie sample of manure which you sent me for analysis is also poor 

 in soluble phosphate, and in point of fact is essentially a badly dissolved 

 superphosphate, containing but little nitrogen. A manure of the composition 



2 N 2 



