NITRATE OF SODA. 



367 



heat applied affects also the relative proportion of animonia 

 and cyan-compounds. As the gas-mannfoctories at present 

 furnish the main portion of the commercial crude sulphate of 

 ammonia for agricultural purposes, it may be of interest to 

 study somewhat closer the industrial importance of the pro- 

 duction of ammonia from bituminous coal. I feel oblis-ed to 

 refer to the results obtained in Eng-laud. 



Lancaster coal contains 1.25 per cent, of nitrogen. New- 

 castle coal contains 1.30 per cent, of nitrogen. Scotch coal 

 contains 1.44 per cent, of nitrogen. 



One ton of Newcastle coal contains at the previously stated 

 rate, 26 pounds of nitrogen, which is equal to 30.57 pounds 

 of ammonia, or from 122 to 123 pounds of dry sulphate of 

 ammonia. The actual amount secured, varies however from 

 16 to 24 pounds per ton. The gas-works of the city of Lon- 

 don, which consume annually about one and a half million 

 tons of coal, can produce from 16,000 to 18,000 tons of sul- 

 phate of ammonia. 



I have tested repeatedly the quality offered in our markets 

 and obtained the foUowino- results : — 



Both samples were offered for sale at 7 cents per pound by 

 the cask. One pound of nitrogen costs, therefore, in the 

 retail trade 28.2 cents. Fertilizer dealers are charging 30 

 cents per pound of nitrogen, without reference to the form in 

 which it is present. 



Crude Nitrate of Soda (Chili Saltpetre). 

 The consumption of this compound has of late greatly 

 increased. Some twenty years ago three vessels were suffi- 

 cient to carry on its exportation. At present, judging from 

 recent reports, there are now a hundred vessels waiting in 

 the port of Iquiqiie, Peru. 



