On Liquid Manure. 537 



the roots of plants, is capable of producing a more striking effect 

 than probably six times the amount of fertilising matters applied 

 to the land in a less favourable condition. 



The proportion of ammonia in Mr. Mechi's liquid manure, 

 in comparison with tliat existing i» cultivated soils, is quite 

 insignificant. If, therefore, the land on Tiptree farm is indeed 

 so much improved by irrigation with liquid manure, the question 

 naturally arises in one's mind whether ordinary irrigation with 

 common spring water might not produce equally good results. 



6. — Liquid Manure from Tiptree Hall ; muddij liquid. 



The specific gravity of the muddy liquid was found to be 

 ]"001 at iS'l' B'ahr., or only a little higher than the clear liquid, 

 and much lower than the specific gravity of the other varieties 

 of liquid manure which I examined. 



Before analysation, the muddy liquid was well shaken, in order 

 to distribute uniformly the suspended and dark-coloured matters. 

 These consisted partly of organic matters, partly of fine clay. 



On evaporation, an imperial gallon of the muddy liquid gave 

 95'76 grains of solid residue, dried at 212° Fahr. This quantity, 

 on burning, left 45"57 of ash, which on analysis yielded the 

 following results : — 



Sohible silica (soluble m dilute potash sohition) .. 14"20 



Insohible silicious matter (fine clay) 33"30 



Oxides of iron and alumina 5*18 



Lime 14-50 



Magnesia 3'80 



Potash '11 



Chloride of potassium 4*28 



Chloride of sodium 10'56 



Phosphoric acid 8"17 



Sulphuric acid 4*26 



Carbonic acid and loss "98 



100-00 



The residue left on evaporation of 1 gallon of muddy liquid 



yielded 2-17 of nitrogen, which is equal to 2-63 grains of ammonia. 



Evaporated with the addition of hydrochloric acid, an imperial 



gallon left a residue which on burning with soda-lime produced 



4-51 grains of nitrogen, equal to 5-47G of ammonia. 



One hundred parts of dry matters contained in the muddy 

 liquid from Tiptree Hall contained : — 



* Organic matters 52'41 



+ Mineral substances 47-59 



100-00 



* Containing nitrogen 2 '27 



Equal to ammonia 2-75 



t Consisting of — 



Soluble 



VOL. XIX. 2 N 



