ABSTRACT OF MONTHLY 



SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. 



FEBRUARY. 



Phosphates and Superphosphates, by IV. H. Hammond, Milton 



Chapel, Canterbury. 



When phosphorus is burned it gives off dense white fumes, 

 which arc a combination of phosphorus with the oxygen of the 

 air. This compound is known as phosphoric anhydride or dry 

 phosphoric acid ; it never occurs pure in nature, but always in 

 combination with a base, the resulting compound beino- known 

 as a phosphate, and phosphates are essential to the well°being of 

 all the higher orders of both the animal and vegetable kingdoms. 



The most important phosphates are those of lime, magnesia," 

 iron, alumina, potash, and soda, and one or more may be found 

 in nearly every part of the bodies of the higher animals. It has 

 been computed that ten lambs will take away 901bs. of phosphate 

 of lime per annum, that 40 gallons of milk take away one 

 pound of phosphate of lime, and that every year a cow takes off 

 a farm as much phosphoric acid as is contained in half a 

 hundred weight of bone dust. Bone alone contains more than 

 50 per cent, of phosphate of lime. Plants, too, require large 

 quantities of the phosphates. 



The ash of Wheat grain contains 



Barley , 



Oats 



Maize , 



Rice , 



Peas , 



Beans , 



Wheat, straw & 



chaff 

 Potatoes , 



White Turnips , 

 Swedes , 



Mangolds 

 Meadow hay 

 Clover 



46 per cent, of 

 phosphoric acid. 

 32 

 20 

 44 

 50 

 35 

 35 



5^ 

 18 

 17 

 15 

 15^ 



6^ 

 10 



