20 



on a statement of the potash guarantee, subject to an analysis. 

 Good grades of wood ashes should analyze around 5 per cent water 

 soluble potash. Many of the ashes offered for sale during the past 

 year have tested less than 3, and in a number of cases less than 2 per 

 cent actual water soluble potash. These, altho they are quoted as 

 being unleached hardwood ashes, cannot be considered as such. 

 The small amount of potash present in a great many of these materi- 

 als may be due to poor storage conditions, the potash being leached 

 by exposure to the rains and snows, rather than by intentional leach- 

 ing for the potash which they contain. 



w Vi r A Only 5 samples of high grade sulfate of potash were 



Q^if ^^^^ collected and 1 analysis made. The average retail 

 D t Vi ^^^^ price for this salt was $84.00, and the average 



Fotasn. calculated commercial valuation $94.01 a ton. 



The analysis showed the presence of 49.48 per cent of potassium 

 oxide, and a pound of actual potash cost 8.49 cents. Neither potash- 

 magnesium sulfate nor kainit was found in the general markets. 



Three samples of muriate of potash were taken by 



Muriate of our inspectors and 1 analysis was made. The 



Potash. average percentage of potash was 51.52. The 



average retail cash price was $68.13 and the average 



calculated commercial valuation $87.54 per ton. This made the 



pound cost of actual potash 6.61 cents. 



PHOSPHORIC ACID COMPOUNDS. 



Four samples of dissolved bone black have been 

 Dissolved Bone examined and no deficiencies were found. The 

 Black. average available phosphoric acid found in this 



material was 16.71 per cent. The average retail 

 cash price was $24.00 and the average calculated commercial valua- 

 tion $13.55 per ton. This made the cost of a pound of available 

 phosphoric acid from this source 7.18 cents. 



Fourteen analyses of acid phosphate were made, 

 Acid Phosphate, representing 35 samples. No deficiencies were 

 found. The average retail cash price has been 

 $14.22 and the average calculated commercial valuation has been 

 $12.10 per ton. The average per cent of available phos]>horic acid 

 found in acid phosphate was 15.29. The pound of available phos- 

 phoric acid from this source has cost on the average 4.65 cents. 



Only 1 sample of genuine Thomas basic slag 

 Basic Slag phosphate was collected. This material is largeh- 



Phosphate. imported either from Belgium, England or Ger- 



many, but the European war has prevented ship- 

 ments of this commodity. There are two sources of supply of basic 

 slag jjhosphate in this country; one at Cape Breton, Canada, and 



