370 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Chloride of sodium, . 

 Chloride of magnesium, . 

 Saud, etc., .... 

 Water lost at a 100° to 120° C, 



40.34 per cent. 

 10.44 

 1.56 

 13.57 



100.00 per cent. 



III. 



Crude Concentrated Sulphate of Potassa (calcined). 



Sulphate of potassa (equal to 30.41 per 



cent, of potassium oxide) , 

 Sulphate of lime, 

 Sulphate of magnesia. 

 Chloride of sodium, . 

 Sand, etc., 

 Water lost at 100° to 120° C, 



100.00 per cent. 



Sample No. I. was imported in Boston ; Nos. II. and III. 

 were secured from an importer in New York. No. III. sold 

 at d^ cents per pound, by the cask, or 10 cents per pound of 

 potassium oxide. Higher grades were decidedly scarce. 



Judging from these analytical results, I do not hesitate to 

 express the belief, that our importers have not yet sufficiently 

 studied the interests of our farmers. Potash salts like Nos. I. 

 and II. above, are for several reasons quite objectionable. 

 They are of an inferior character, on account of the large 

 admixture of chloride of magnesium, a compound which is 

 known to be injurious to many of our farm plants, and they 

 contain also, comparatively speaking, a small quantity of 

 potassium oxide, accompanied by from 87 to 90 per cent, of 

 compounds of but little value, which cause a large expense 

 for freight, and thus an unnecessary increase in the price of 

 the former. The higher grades of the (Stassfurt) German 

 potash salts are for us decidedly preferable. 



To give some more definite idea concerning the condition 

 of the potash industry (at Stassfurt) in Germany during the 

 past year, I present subsequently a copy of a price-list of one 

 of the most celebrated German potash salts manufacturers, 

 dated Stassfurt, June, 1873 : — 



