POWDER-MILL WASTE. 



249 



* Not determined. 



The above sample came from a factory in the eastern part 

 of the State. Like all refuse materials, it is liable to vary 

 seriously in composition in different lots. Containing, as 

 above reported, 23 per cent, of potassium oxide and 12 per 

 cent, of nitric acid, its commercial value is equal to from 

 to $40 per ton of 2,000 pounds in our market. 



Saltpetre Waste. 



Potassium oxide, 30.94 



Sodium oxide, 22.08 



Calcium oxide, 0.83 



Magnesium oxide, 0.09 



Nitric acid, 11.50 



Chlorine, * 37.66 



Sulphuric acid, 4.85 



Moisture, 2.00 



The sample was collected at a store in Springfield, Mass., 

 and represented to be a refuse article from a saltpetre manu- 

 factory in Connecticut. It consisted mainly of potassium 

 chloride and nitrate, besides some 40 per cent, of sodium 

 chloride and sulphate. This salt is evidently resulting from 

 the treatment of chloride of potassium and nitrate of soda, 

 for the purpose of manufacturing saltpetre. It is worth in 

 our market from $44 to $45 dollars per ton of 2,000 pounds. 

 Salines like this deserve a recommendation as special fertiliz- 

 ers for the production of grain crops, as well as grass and 

 forage crops in general. The only objection which might be 

 raised against its reliability consists in the unusual variations 



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