2S 



SOME INFERIOR WOOD ASHES 



lots at the respective railroad stations. This price is lower 

 than any quotations previously known to the Station. The 

 important point for purchasers, however, is that the low price 

 was accompanied by an apparently deliberate reduction in 

 the quality of the ashes. 



During the year preceding the receipt of the five samples 

 above described, the Canada ashes sent to the Station for analy- 

 sis were of good quality, as will be seen by scanning the tabu- 

 lated results. Number 309 is of interest because, though very 

 moist, it yet contains a high percentage of potash. The ashes 

 had most probably been exposed to rain, instead of having 

 been leached and afterward partially dried. The same is also 

 probably true of domestic ashes, No. 413. 



Three samples of domestic ashes are characterized by being 

 very dry, and No. 286 was probably taken soon after the ashes 

 were removed from the stove. Average Canada ashes contain 

 about 12 per cent, of moisture, which renders them as damp as 

 the average chemical fertilizer. Buyers of ashes should there- 

 fore look with suspicion on lots that appear excessively moist, 

 because in such cases the potash is seldom equal to the propor- 

 tion in average ashes. 



The refuse ashes were samples from burned rubbish, princi- 

 pally waste paper and refuse lumber. The analytical results 

 speak for themselves. Ashes from paper are as valueless as 

 those from coal, because the soluble mineral matter has been 

 leached out of the paper stock during the process of paper 

 making. 



COMPOSITION OF ASHES. 



Parts in 100. 

 Canada Ashes, Fall, 1896. 



o 



Locality. 



Total 

 Moisture, phosphoric 

 acid. 



Soluble 

 potash. 



Total 

 potash. 



Lime. 



460 

 464 

 465 

 467 

 470 



Plymouth 

 Walpole .. 

 Walpole .. 

 Stratham 

 Plymouth 



24.80 

 23.90 

 21.00 

 25.25 

 22.60 



1.13 

 1.04 

 1.09 

 .98 

 1.17 



2.62 

 2.48 

 3.22 

 1.99 

 2.60 



3.24 

 3.15 

 3.62 

 2.75 

 3.35 



34.34 



