STASSFURT POTASH-SALTS. 247 



dung-salt; the former were obtained of dealers in Boston, the 

 latter of a dealer in Springfield, Mass. Every one of these 

 three articles contained from 4.5 to 5 per cent, of chloride of 

 magnesium ; Nos. I. and II. contained from 14 to 15 per cent, 

 of chloride of sodium or common salt, whilst No. III. con- 

 tained from 30 to 31 per cent, of that compound. All three 

 salines were fair specimens of their kind, yet they did not 

 contain the entire amount of potash in the form of sulphates, 

 as represented in the analysis of the dealer. This fact 

 appeared not less surprising to the importer than to the cus- 

 tomer, for the cargoes from which they had been taken were 

 certified to by Dr. Ulex of Hamburg, Germany, as sulphates 

 of potassa. Having good reasons to believe in the fairness of 

 the latter, I decided to ascertain his opinion regarding the 

 management of the trade in Stassfurt potash-salts at Ham- 

 burg. As the courteous reply of Dr. Ulex contains some 

 statements which are of interest to importers and dealers in 

 German potash-salt, I enter here on record his remarks regard- 

 ing the question under discussion : — 



" Our exporters of the Stassfurt potash-salts distinguish between 

 ' muriate of potash,' ' kainits,' and ' dung-salts.' The percentage 

 of potassium oxide is determined in every one of these cases as 

 potassium, platino, chloride. The results thus obtained are stated 

 in the case of the muriate of potash as chloride of potassium, whilst 

 in the case of dung-salts and kainits they are calculated as sulphate 

 of potassa. No particular attention is directed to the exact amount 

 of the electro-negative or acid-constituent of the potassium com- 

 pound, for the latter element is considered the essential constituent 

 of the potash-salts. There can be scarcely any doubt that in some 

 cases a part, although quite small, of the potassium in the muriate of 

 potash will be present as sulphate of potassa, whilst in dung-salt 

 and kainit, sometimes the amount of sulphuric acid may not be 

 sufficient to entitle it to the assumption that the entire amount of 

 potassium found is present as sulphate of potassa. The above 

 stated practice to represent the character of the potash-salts has 

 been adopted since the beginning of the trade in these potash-salts, 

 and has not been criticised until quite recently. During the present 

 year a complaint has been made by another part}' in America, regard- 

 ing our above-mentioned mode of representing the quality of our 

 potash-salts. On that occasion I have advised the parties interested 

 to signify in the future the quality of salts they wish to buy, and to 



