REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 71 



LEAF MOLD. 

 Eoccivcd fioiu J. F. Armour, Manistee, Mich, 



Examined for lieatiiig purposes, gave as follows: 

 The sample was first dried aud pulverized. 



Moisture B. 43 



Ash 1'.% 



Bitniniiions matter : 51. 9d 



Coke 21. .03 



100. 00 



Wlien dried the heating value of this sample would be approximately 

 the same as that of dry peat. 



Its fertihzing value is represented by 2.10 per cent, of nitrogen, equiva- 

 lent to 2.55 per cent, of potential ammonia; a trace of phosphoric acid 

 •was present, but no pota.sh. As iin addition to a compost heap it would 

 probably prove valuable. 



COMTtlERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 



As in former years, a considerable number of com.mercial fertilizers 

 has been analyzed and reports made upon their value. Xearly all these 

 fertilizers have had a local reputation, good or bad, in the sections from 

 which they came, but it seems hardly advisable to print their analyses 

 here, because they are of interest to only a very few persons. At the 

 same time it is very important that the farmer, who is obliged to buy 

 fertilizers, should thoroughly understand what constituents give value, 

 and what others merely add weight. It has been found as the result of 

 experience that the following substances are necessary to the plant that 

 it may grow and mature properly. 



I.— XITROGEN. 



It is not proven, and it seems very doubtful, whether any part of the 

 nitrogen absorbed and assimilated by plants is derived directly from the 

 free nitrogen in the air. On the other hand, abundant evidence exists 

 that ammonia, or any substance which can furnish it, and nitrates have 

 direct and positive effects for good on growing plants. l!fo plant has 

 ever been examined which did not contain a greater or lesser proportion 

 of nitrogenous constituents at aU stages of its development, and in aU 

 its essential organs. The amounts of nitrogenous constituents vary 

 greatly in different families of x)lants, in different members of the same 

 family, and in each individual at different stages in its growth. Hence 

 an intelligent discrimination should be made in applying nitrogenous 

 fertilizers, in order that the necessities of the gTowing plant may be sat- 

 isfied without excessive waste and expense for the fertilizer. Nitrogen 

 may be furnished to the plant in three ways, viz : 



a. As actual ammonia. 



Free ammonia gas (XH3) is liberated from many substances when 

 putrefying, and carbonate of ammonium ((is^H4)2C03) always results 

 from the decomposition of urine, stable manure, &'c. In these forms 

 ammonia has the characteristic pungent odor of " hartshorn," so well 

 known. Besides tbese familiar sources, the distillates from gas-works 

 and those obtained in charring bones, &c., for the manufacture of animal 

 charcoal ("bone black"), furnish large quantities of ammonia, which is 

 made into a white crystalline sulphate ((NH4)2S04), and thus furnished 



