326 GAS LIQUOR. 



is a powerful and valuable manure. If a little quick- 

 lime is mixed with soot, the salts of ammonia will be 

 decomposed, and the strong pungent smell of ammonia 

 becomes evident. For this reason lime and soot 

 should not be used together as manure : the objection 

 of course does not apply to the use of chalk and 

 soot. 



885. Soot contains a good deal of the ammonia 

 formed during the combustion of coal, but, in con- 

 sequence of its volatility, a considerable portion is 

 lost. In the process for making gas, where coal is 

 roasted in close iron vessels, all the ammonia is saved 

 and is condensed by means of cold water. The gas 

 is made to bubble through a quantity of water: this 

 condenses the ammonia, and constitutes what is 

 termed gas liquor, or the ammoniacal liquor of the 

 gas-works. It is a solution of ammonia, partly caus- 

 tic, and partly combined with carbonic acid and 

 sulphuretted hydrogen (183). 



886. Ammonaical liquor is a strong and excellent 

 manure, resembling in some respects the manures 

 formed by the decay of animal substances. As ob- 

 tained from the gas-works, it is almost always too 

 strong to be used as a manure for grass-lands or 

 crops, and must be diluted with four or six times its 

 bulk of water. Gas liquor may also be conveniently 

 used, mixed with green vegetable manures, the de- 

 composition of which it greatly facilitates (854). 



• 887. In consequence of the volatility and caustic 

 nature of free ammonia, it is found advisable for 



