A BOSTON CHEMIST. 83 



chemist, saying that it contained so much actual potash. 

 Well, a Boston chemist is a big-bug, you know, and of course 

 he tells the truth, because he is in the employ of the fertilizer 

 manufacturers, and we accepted his statement that it contained 

 so much actual potash, and my friend, Dr. Goessmann, mixed 

 the fertilizers in the laboratory at the College, based on that 

 certificate. I mixed them out of the same potash, based on 

 that certificate. I sent them broadcast all through the adjoin- 

 ing towns, from Northfield to Southampton. The Professor 

 laid by a sample of that potash to analyze as quick as he 

 could get at it, but supposed it would not vary more than 

 half of one per cent., and practically it Avould make no differ- 

 ence with the experiments. By and by he analyzed that 

 potash, and instead of its containing thirty-two per cent, of 

 actual potash, it only contained eight per cent. ; and, there- 

 fore, instead of our paying eight cents a pound for the potash, 

 we had paid thirty-two, and our fertilizers, instead of having 

 the requisite amount of potash to make this crop, contained 

 not quarter enough. If it were possible, I should say there 

 was a row at the Agricultural College. The young man who 

 got the potash for us is here, and I do not want to hurt his feel- 

 ings, because he is not to blame ; but we sent to Boston quick ; 

 everything was depending upon potash. We must have 

 potash, and give it to these crops immediately, or we should 

 lose a year's work. Now, I am going to hit somebody. I do 

 not know but the Doctor will find fault with me, but I do uot 

 care if he does. The young man was as indignant as we 

 were. He had dealt honestly and honorably. He had 

 bought the potash of the man who imported it, on the certifi- 

 cate of the Boston chemist, who said it contained thirty-two 

 per cent, of actual potash, and we honestly believed it did, 

 until it was tried. He was so indignant that he went to 

 the warehouse and took a bag of that material, carried it to 

 his office, took out a sample, and carried it to the Boston 

 chemist, whose certificate he had previously had, and said, 

 * There is trouble about this potash. There is a sample 

 taken from a bag which I got at the importer's. I want you 

 to analyze it accurately, and give me the analysis to send to 

 Amherst. The bag is going to Amherst just as quick as I get 

 back to my office, and Dr. Goessmann will analyze it." The 



