NITEOGENOUS MANUBES 273 



with the other companies interested, have secured a mono- 

 poly for supplying this country. They have erected plant 

 for the manufacture of the product at Odda, in Norway, 

 where, owing to the precipitous nature of the country, the 

 water power employed for working the electrical apparatus 

 can be easily and cheaply obtained. 



In appearance, nitrolim is a heavy dark-coloured sub- 

 stance somewhat resembling basic slag. To prevent it 

 from becoming damp by absorption of moisture from the 

 air calcium cyanamide being very deliquescent the 

 manure is put up in strong double bags, of which the 

 inner one is lined with a special preparation. Under 

 these conditions it can be stored for a considerable length 

 of time without danger or sensible loss of fertilising 

 properties. 



Composition and General Properties. The following 

 analysis shows the composition of a sample of nitrolim 

 recently examined by Dr. Voelcker : 



Per cent. 



1 Calcium cyanamide ....... 58*91 



Caustic or free lime ....... 23'55 



Magnesia . . . . . . . . . 0*05 



Oxide of iron and alumina ...... 2 P 44 



Siliceous matter ........ 2'19 



Carbon . 12 -86 



100-00 



1 Containing nitrogen 20*62, equal to ammonia 25 '03. 



It will be seen that the manure consists practically of 

 a mixture of calcium-cyanamide and lime, together with 

 some 15 to 20 per cent, of impurity. Besides the free 

 lime, the calcium-cyanamide contains 50 per cent, of 

 calcium, which though present in a state of combination, 

 is ultimately converted into calcium carbonate in the 

 soil, and may therefore be regarded potentially as free 



S.M. T 



