[ 8og ] 



countries is mainly occupied, therefore, in analysing 

 manures. In analysing crops, the agricultural chemist 

 should also bear in mind the object, which is the ascer- 

 taining of their nourishing value. Another object of analy- 

 sing a crop is to ascertain the proper manurial substances 

 needed for its growth. The analysis of the tobacco leaf, 

 for instance, leaves no doubt that the manurial ingredients 

 required by this crop are chiefly N, Ca, S, and K, and one 

 naturally arrives at the conclusion that Saltpetre and Gypsum 

 would materially benefit this crop. 



1.388. The agricultural chemist should be well acquaint- 

 ed with the aims, needs and difficulties of the farmer, that his 

 analyses may not be aimless, but directed to the elucidation 

 of only those points that would be of help to the farmer. In 

 other words, an agricultural chemist must be an agriculturist 

 who has specialised himself as an agricultural chemist. 



1.389. The farmer also should have a general acquaint- 

 ance of the chemical or rather the manurial value of the 

 substances he sells out of his farm and those he buys for the 

 farm. His aim should be to sell off only such articles as have 

 little manurial value, such as, rice, maize, oil (not oil-cake), 

 fibres, India-rubber, sugar, and butter; and he should buy 

 such food-stuffs only as are particularly rich in N, P, K, Ca 

 and S. Linseed-cake would fatten his animals quicker, but It 

 is much better that he should purchase cotton-cake, as the 

 latter brings in far more fertility to his soil. 



1.390. The apparatus and chemicals required by an 

 agriculturist for analytical work can be procured for about 

 200. Messrs. Baird and Tatlock of 14 Cross Street, Hatton 

 Garden, London, E. C., are the best English firm to go to for 

 these. For purity of chemicals, however, the firms of Kahl- 

 baum of Berlin and E. Merck of Darmstadt, are the most 

 famous. The best balance to use is that of Paul Bunge of 

 Hamburg (price 10 guineas). 



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