548 Quarterly Report of the Chemical Committee. 



of the sample analysed by me, in my opinion, is not worth more than about- 

 Al. 15s. to bl. per ton. I should feel obliged to you to inform me at what 

 price this manure is actually sold, and by whom it is manufactured and sold. 



" Believe me, yours faithfully, 



" Augustus Voelcker." 

 " W. G. Duncan, Esq." 



Composition of a Sample of " Cereal Manure" sent hy 

 Mr. W. 0. Duncan. 



Moisture 17*16 



Water of combination and *organic matter 18'09 



Bi-phosphate of lime (mono-basic phosphate of lime) .. 8 '32 

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

 rendered soluble by acid (13*03). 



Insoluble phosphates 15*78 



Sulphate of lime ) ^2*87 



Alkaline salts and magnesia \ 



Insoluble siliceous matter 7*78 



100*00 



♦Containing nitrogen * 73 



Equal to ammonia * 89 



On receipt of this letter, communications took place betweera 

 the several parties, with the result that the follow^ing letter, dated 

 April 16th, from the makers, was handed to Mr. Duncan : — 



" London, April 16, 1874. 



" Dear Sirs, — We regret much to learn the result of Mr. Duncan's 

 sending to Dr. Voelcker, and at first were much surprised. On enquiries-, 

 however, the matter was cleared up, as we are able to connect the complaint 

 with one particular parcel, which was sent out imder the following circum- 

 stances : — On going to dig out of bulk the Phosphatic Cereal for this order our 

 foreman discovered that, through our acid tank having sprung a leak, a large 

 quantity of acid had run down into the bin in which the manure was, and had 

 made it very wet ; so he set to mix, with the shovel, enough ground coprolite 

 with the manure, as he thought, to dry up the excess of acid. Of course the 

 mixing was most imperfectly done, and was in random proportions. This 

 will fully account for the deficiency in ammonia, the excess of insoluble 

 phosphate, and the general bad character given by Dr. Voelcker to the manure. 

 Fortunately it was the only parcel sent out; for, on discovering the matter, 

 we immediately stopped any more going out, and made a fresh bulk, from 

 which we are now delivering. We had no idea, however, that the value of 

 the manure had been so much reduced, or would have taken steps to prevent 

 its being used. As it is, we can only say how much we regret the circum- 

 stance, especially happening as it does with a customer of yours who had 

 complained of another make. We shall leave it entirely in your hands to 

 settle with him as you think right, and beg that you will express our unfeigned 

 regret for the annoyance and trouble it has given to him, as well as make a 

 fair and liberal allowance in money. Should he, fortunately, have, not used 

 all, will you please have Avhat remains returned to us, and we will replace it 

 with what we are now sending out, and of the quality of which we are per- 

 fectly satisfied. Meanwhile, we remain yours truly, 



