In view of the fact that ash analyses of pLants forms a most 

 important subject in agricuhural chemistry, it needs no further argu- 

 ment that any new piece of apparatus, or any modification in the 

 mode of analyses of the ashes of plants, which will facilitate the work, 

 and secure at the same time greater accuracy, claims the serious 

 consideration of agricultural chemists. 



In the few subsequent pages I propose to give a short description 

 of the apparatus at present in use in the Chemical Department, 

 Division of Plant Foods and Fertilizers, Hatch Experiment Station 

 of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, for the preparation and 

 incineration of plants and agricultural products in general for ash 

 analysis. 



Preparation of material for ash analysis (Kugelmuehle.) For 

 the preparation of plants and agricultural products for ash analysis 

 we have adopted the " Kugelmuehle," an apparatus imported from 

 Dresden, Germany. The merits of this apparatus were first observed 

 by the writer when on a personal visit to Prof. H. Wislicenus at the 

 Forstacademie in Tharand, Saxony, where the apparatus was in use 

 giving much satisfaction. 



The principal features of the apparatus are two very thick and 

 heavy cylindrical porcelain vessels, about six and one-half inches 

 high and five and one-half inches in diameter, which receive the 

 sample to be ground. In each vessel are also placed twelve to fifteen 

 roughly finished porcelain balls about four inches in circumference. 

 A well fitting porcelain cover is subsequently firmly fastened in posi- 

 tion, after which the vessels are placed on rubber covered, parallel 

 wooden bars. Three of these bars are adjusted to run about three 

 inches apart. The power is communicated to the middle bar by 

 means of a belt passing over a pulley. As soon as the porcelain 

 vessels are placed between these, bars the power is communicated to 

 the remaining two bars which causes them all to move in unison, 

 turning, at the same rate of speed, the two porcelain vessels. The 

 friction of the small porcelain balls, in the porcelain vessels, reduces 

 the dried substance gradually to an impalpable powder. The use of 

 this apparatus prev'ents loss of material in form of fine dust and 

 excludes any possibility of contamination by iron. One-half horse 

 power or even less is all that i^ necessary to successfully run the 

 apparatus. The power may be obtained by an electric motor, water 



