32 



As a general thing it might be said that the form of potash was found 

 present as claimed. The presence of small amounts of chlorides in 

 tobacco formulas and other special crop formulas where sulfate and 

 carbonate are guaranteed is probably unavoidable. Nitrate of soda 

 may carry traces of chlorides as may also the different grades of sul- 

 fate of potash. Some kinds of bone and tankage may also carry traces 

 of soluble chlorides. In the carbonated goods the presence of consider- 

 able chlorine may indicate that the source of potash was from 

 the beet sugar industry, as the carbonate of potash from this source 

 carries from 8 to 12 per cent muriate of potash in connection with 

 carbonate of potash. A study of the tables shows that 39 brands 

 of tobacco fertilizer were analyzed. The total water soluble potash 

 present was 7.30 per cent of which 6.19 per cent was from sulfate and 

 1.13 from muriate. Five brands of tobacco fertilizer were analyzed 

 having their potash guaranteed as carbonate. In these brands, out 

 of a total of 7.63 per cent water soluble potash, 5.34 per cent was 

 as claimed, .83 per cent was present as muriate and 1.46 per cent as sul- 

 fate. In case of the tobacco brands a total potash test has been made. 

 This includes not only that portion of the potash soluble in water but 

 any that may be present in organic form, such as from cottonseed 

 meal, castor pomace, etc. These percentages are expressed in form 

 of foot notes. Wherever no total potash is given it may be inferred 

 that the total potash test did not exceed the water soluble test. 

 LIME COMPOUNDS. 



The tables of analyses of the lime compounds show that the 

 various brands of agricultural lime analyzed have been grouped under 

 five heads and are as follows: 



Hydrated or slaked lime, 18 analyses, representing 15 brands. 

 Ground limestones, 11 " " 7 " 



Marl, 4 " "2 



Lime ashes, 5 " "4 



Gypsum or land plaster, 5 " ■ " 5 " 



The meaning of the names of these various groups of lime com- 

 pounds are probably well understood by the average reader. To those 

 who are not familiar with the various terms reference is made to bul- 

 letin 147 published in December, 1913.* The analyses have been 

 published in the same form as in previous years. On the left hand 

 page will be found the actual analyses of the different lime compounds. 

 Reading across on the opposite page will be found the probable com- 

 binations of the ingredients as calculated from the analytical data and 

 which will probably nearly correspond with the actual composition 

 of the lime products in question. Wherever possible we have figured 

 the actual cost of 100 pounds of calcium and magnesium oxides in 

 the various lime sources. Foot notes refer to the conditions of sales, 



* No longer available for distribution. 



