1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 585 



One hundred parts of ash contained, — 



Per cent. 



Calcium oxide, 1.22 



Magnesium oxide, Trace. 



Potassium oxide, 33.23 



Sodium oxide, 28.05 



Iron and alumina oxides, 2.74 



Insoluble matter, 6.91 



The above-stated liquid was obtained, according to infor- 

 mation received, by scouring raw wool with a solution of 

 soda-ash and soap. The most noticeable constituent of the 

 material is its comparatively large amount of potash (1.09 

 per cent.) in the calcined residue or ash. The presence of 

 a liberal amount of potash compounds in raw wool is well 

 known. A sample of raw wool from South America, tested 

 here in that direction some years ago, showed from 3.92 to 

 4.2 per cent, of potassium oxide. The washings of sheep 

 and of raw wool may be used with a good effect on grass 

 lands. Solutions like the one above described are, however, 

 too concentrated for direct use ; they ought to be diluted 

 with from ten to twenty times their weight of water, to 

 render advisable their direct application on any growing 

 vegetation. 



Refuse Material from Soap Works. 



[Sent on by Holyoke Soap Works, Holyoke, Mass.] 



Per cent. 



Moisture at 100° C, . . . 19.70 



Total phosphoric acid, 15.37 



Soluble phosphoric acid, .03 



Reverted phosphoric acid, 5.29 



Insoluble phosphoric acid, 10.05 



Nitrogen, 4.24 



Insoluble matter, 1.37 



This material is similar to tankage in composition and in 

 mechanical condition. 



