24 



HATCH EXPEEIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



sists of a power mill (^Kugelmuhle) to be used in the prepa- 

 ration of the plant for analysis, and which eliminates all 

 danger of the contamination of the sample with iron or 

 other metallic substances, the grinding being accomplished 

 by means of porcelain balls revolving within a tightly sealed 

 porcelain vessel. In this connection we have imported 

 suitable platinum apparatus, recommended by AVislicenus, 

 Tollens and others, for the purpose of securing the ashes of 

 plants at a low temperature ; its structure being such as to 

 eliminate all danger of the volatilization of potash, soda, 

 phosphoric acid and other mineral constituents of plants. 

 Attention has also been directed to the investigation of 

 the available phosphoric acid in natural phosphates. The 

 results of investigations above mentioned will be published 

 from time to time, whenever the results prove of general 

 interest and value to the public. 



2. Notes o^ Wood Ashes. 

 During the season of 1902, 24 per cent, of the materials 

 forwarded for analysis consisted of wood ashes. The fol- 

 lowing table shows their general chemical character : — 



Analysis of Wood Ashes 

 Moisture below 1 percent., . 

 Moisture fi'om 1 to 10 per cent., . 

 Moisture from 10 to 20 per cent., . 

 Moisture from 20 to 30 per cent., . 

 Potassium oxide from 7 to 8 per cent., 

 Potassium oxide from 6 to 7 per cent, 

 Potassium oxide from f) to 6 per cent.. 

 Potassium oxide from 4 to 5 per cent., 

 Potassium oxide from 3 to 4 per cent., 

 Potassium oxide below 3 per cent., 

 Phosphoric acid from 1 to 2 per cent., . 

 Phosphoric acid below 1 per cent.. 

 Average per cent, of calcium oxide (lime), 

 Insoluble matter below 10 per cent., , 

 Insoluble matter between 10 and 15 per cent, 

 Insoluble matter between 15 and 20 per cent. 

 Insoluble matter above 20 per cent, . 



Number of 

 Samples. 



2 

 18 

 22 



6 



4 



8 

 21 

 12 



2 



1 

 46 



2 

 32.18 

 15 

 17 

 18 • 



3 



The average standard of this class of materials remains 

 about the same as in previous years. 



