18 VOELCKER on the Value of Artificial Manures. 



Organic matter and water 18*02 



Silica and insoluble siliceous matter 17*26 



Phosphate of lime 64*66 



Carbonate of lime -06 



100-00 



It was offered for sale at 61. 10s. ; but as boiled bones, which 

 contain, in addition to about the same proportion of phosphate 

 of lime, l to 2 per cent, of nitrogen, are sold at 51. to 5/. 10s., 

 refuse bone-black is rather too dear at this price. 



Hellers Fertilizing Powder. Some time ago we examined a 

 black powder, which, under the name of Heller's fertilizing 

 powder, is sold at Manchester in tin canisters and packets, at 

 various high prices. 



Thus the specimen of which the subjoined analysis was 

 made is sold at 2s. 6d. per pint, and recommended for watering 

 shrubs and trees ; for wheat, oats, and barley, seven pints of 

 powder, costing 6*., are recommended for one bushel of seed ; 

 for peas, beans, <&c., six pints, costing 5s. ; for potatoes, five 

 pints, costing 3s., &c. 



In the printed circular, addressed to agriculturists, gardeners, 

 and florists, this powder is puffed up as a new discovery in agri- 

 cultural science. The circular contains some extraordinary 

 statements. Thus it is said : " By the use of the powder an 

 immense saving will be realised by farmers and others, who have 

 been in the habit of using guano, bone-bust, &c., at an immense 

 cost, and which has been found in many cases of little avail." 



Again, we find the following statement : " It will be found 

 efficacious when applied to waste and other land, which, by the 

 medium of this powder, may be made very productive, and at a 

 trifling expense, superseding the more costly and laborious 

 methods hitherto required for tillage. It may also be remarked 

 of land upon which this powder has been applied, that after the 

 second year it need not be again used on the same land, the soil 

 retaining its fertilizing properties." 



Several favourable testimonials accompany this curious docu- 

 ment. On analysis the powder was found to contain : 



Water 14-40 



Organic matter (principally soot), yielding 1*859 of. 



nitrogen 51*60 



Bone-earth 15*56 



Gypsum 5*89 



Carbonate of lime *60 



Alkaline salts, chiefly common salt 5-00 



Sand 7-16 



100-21 



