136 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



most economical, since potash from this source costs from 

 one-fourth to half a cent less per pound than in high-grade 

 sulfate. 



The only advantage which the double sulfate of jpotask 

 and magnesia (containing about twenty-seven per cent of 

 potash) may have over the high-grade sulfate rests in the 

 magnesia which it contains, and, since potash is usually 

 cheaper in the high-grade goods, the latter are more fre- 

 quently employed. 



Kainite contains about 11 per cent of potash, some of 

 which is present in the form of sulfate of potash. This 

 fact is unfortunately frequently made use of to convey the 

 impression that it can be used in the place of the high- 

 grade sulfate of potash, for crops where the chlorine of the 

 muriate of potash would be objectionable. Such a pro- 

 ceeding is, however, wholly unwarranted, since this ma- 

 terial contains, associated with the sulfate of potash, large 

 quantities of chlorine in the form of muriate of potash, 

 common salt and magnesium chloride. 



Before proceeding, attention should be called to the im- 

 portance of determinations of chlorine in connection with 

 the analysis of commercial fertilizers. This is particularly 

 desirable wherever the tobacco, hop or sugar beet industry 

 is developed ; and even in Rhode Island, where the potato 

 industry is the chief one affected, the farmers who are look- 

 ing for quality consider the matter of much importance. 

 The necessity of this is particularly apparent in view of the 

 deceptive way in which many manufacturers of fertilizers 

 guarantee their goods. A large portion of the commercial 

 manures on the market to-day bear the statement " sulfate 

 of potash" or "equal to sulfate of potash," evidently for 

 the purpose of making farmers believe that they contain 

 more potash than is actually the case, or that the goods are 

 practically free from chlorine. It is, nevertheless, a fact 

 that the major portion of them contain as much chlorine as 

 would have been the case had the muriate been the only 

 form of potash employed in their manufacture. The sooner 

 this vicious practice is dropped by the trade, the more 

 quickly will the confidence of the consumer be gained and 

 the consequent volume of sales increased. 



