616 



Miscellaneous Results from the Laboratory. 



The following analyses of Scutch were made in my laboratory by Mr. 

 Ogston. The specimen No. 1 was said to be worth 25s., and No. 2 

 40s., per ton : — 



Water ....... 



Animal matter and Salts of 



Ammonia 



Sand, &c 



Carl)ona4^e of Lime .... 

 Sulphate of Lime .... 

 Phosphate of Lime .... 



Magnesia 



Peroxide of Iron and Aluminum 



Total .... 



(J9-71 



99-76 



When examined for nitrogen : — 



No. 1 gave -89 Nitrogen, equal to 1-07 per cent. Ammonia. 

 No. 2 „ 1-57 „ „ 1-90 „ 



The only ingredients in this case to which any money value can be 

 fairly attached, are the ammonia and the phosphate of lime. Taking the 

 ammonia of the 2nd specimen at 2 per cent., and the phosphate of lime 

 at the same amount, we shall in a ton obtain 45 lbs. of each of these sub- 

 stances. 



I have elsewhere shown that ammonia may be bought in Peruvian 

 guano for 6d., and phosphate of lime in the same form for fc?. per lb. 

 We should thus have for the value of the ton of scutch — 



s. d. 



45 lbs. of Ammonia a.t 6d 22 6 



45 lbs. of Phosphate of Lime at ^d 2 10 



25 4 



If, then, specimen No. 2 were sold at the same price as the inferior kind, 

 whose analysis is given, the expense would be barely made good. 



It is quite possible that the refuse may at times be of greater vakie, and to 

 be had at a less cost than in the cases I have instanced, and its use will 

 then be economically admissible. It should, however, be borne in mind, 

 that 2cwts. of Peruvian guano, at a cost of 1/., would supply very nearly 

 the same quantity of ammonia, and more of phosphate, with the advantage 

 of a known composition^ and requiring only one-sixth of the cartage, mixing, 

 &c., previous to its application. 



Alkali Waste. — In the manufacture of carbonate of soda from common 

 salt, large quantities of sulphuric acid are employed for the purpose of con- 

 verting the muriate into sulphate of soda. In'a subsequent stage of the 



maker in its wet state, and paid 7s. a waggon-load for it. I used it on various de- 

 scriptions of land, red sand, clay, mountain limestone, and marl, and on all found 

 the most beneficial results to ensue from its application. Tlie advantage of using it 

 was apparent not only in the first and second crops, but the parts of the fields to which 

 this species of manure was applied were easily distinguishable by the greater luxuriance 

 presented in the last crop of the four-course shift. It is possible that the Scutch 

 analyzed by the learned Professor may have been subjected to a process which I under- 

 stood was common some years back, viz. the abstraction of the bones from the mass 

 left as refuse after the glue had been extracted. — W. Miles. 



