17 



PRODUCTS SOLD LARGELY FOR THEIR POTASH CONTENT. 



Several potash-containing substances have been offered to the retail trade 

 during the year. 



Potash-Lime Fertilizer. — This product, manufactured by the Alpha 

 Portland Cement Company of Easton, Pa., contained 7.40 per cent, of potas- 

 sium oxide soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid and 2.93 per cent, soluble in 

 water. In addition there were found 1.20 per cent, of phosphoric acid and 

 24.34 per cent, of calcium oxide. The product was handled locally by Prentiss, 

 Brooks & Co. of Holyoke and Westfield, and sold for about $20 per ton. A 

 former analysis of this product made at this laboratory showed that out of a 

 total of 6.67 per cent, of potassium oxide dissolved by strong hydrochloric 

 acid 6.32 per cent, (nearly 95 per cent, of total actual potash) was dissolved 

 by a fifth normal hydrochloric acid solution and 2.46 per cent, (about 37 per 

 cent, of the total K2O) was found soluble in water. The fact that such a 

 large proportion of the total potash was dissolved by a weak solution of 

 hydrochloric acid might indicate that a considerable amount of the potash 

 that is not soluble in water will become readily available in the soil. Earlier 

 studies also show that about 38 per cent, of the total lime present is in active 

 form, in other words, dissolved by a 10 per cent, sugar solution. The effect of 

 this active lime would probably compare favorably with hydrated or slaked 

 lime of commerce. Potash-Lime Fertilizer will probably be found suitable 

 for most crops if used in moderate quantities, particularly if the soil upon 

 which it is used is inclined to be of an acid character. On the other hand, the 

 free lime present might have a tendency on some soils to produce scabby 

 potatoes, and on tobacco soils inclined to tobacco sickness some other form 

 of potash will probably be found more suitable. 



Manure Ashes. — This material comes from the Middle West stock 

 yards where refuse material containing dry manurial matter is incinerated. 

 The material has been sold locally by Mr. A. W. Higgins, Westfield, Mass., 

 the price being about $5 per unit of potash. An average of four analyses, 

 representing four carloads, shows the following composition : — 



Per Cent. 



Total or acid soluble potash, 6.05 



Water soluble potash, 3.78 



Phosphoric acid, 2.87 



Calcium oxide, 5. 12 



The nature of this material is in many respects similar to wood ashes. 

 The soluble potash is present largely as carbonate. The potash not soluble 



