STASSFURT POTASH SALTS. 



369 



German Potash Salts. 



These salts, on trial since 1860 in the agricultural industry 

 of Germany, have acquired from year to year a greater impor- 

 tance throughout Europe. They have of late also found tlieir 

 way into our markets, on account of the daily increasing 

 scarcity of suitable cheap potash compounds for fertilizing 

 purposes. Larger quantities have been used upon our farms 

 during the past year than in the preceding one. The demand 

 for experimental purposes has frequently exceeded the supply, 

 particularly as far as the higher grades of these compounds 

 are concerned. Our prices have been higher as a general 

 rule than a well regulated importation would sustain for any 

 length of time. The most serious fcatuie, however, regard- 

 ing our past supply, consists in the fact, that inferior qualities 

 of the potash salt have frequently been imported. 



A few subsequent analytical statements concerning samples 

 tested by me during the past year may prove the correctness 

 of this assertion. 



Crude Stassfurt Potash Salt (uncalcined). 



Chloride of potassium (equal to 9.8 per 



cent, of potassium oxide) , 

 Chloride of sodium, . 

 Chloride of magnesium. 

 Sulphate of lime, 

 Sulphate of magnesia, 

 Sand, etc., 

 Water lost at 100° to 120° C, 



100.00 per cent. 



II. 



Artificial Kainite, or Crude Calcined Potash Salt. 



Sulphate of potassa (equal to 12.93 percent. 



of potassium oxide), .... 23.89 per cent. 

 Sulphate of lime, ..... 3.45 " 

 Sulphate of magnesia, . . . .6.75 ''- 



47 



