ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 109 



at Goshen for this purpose. They dry the crabs, grind 

 them as fine as possible, and mix them with a small quan- 

 . tity of some deodorizing material. The material, thus pre- 

 pared, is put up in bags, and sold under the name of 

 cancerine. Its price is from |25 to |30 a ton at the works. 

 Several hundred tons were manufactured and sold last 

 year ; and an increased quantity will be made the present 

 vear. 



It was applied on wheat last year ; but the winter was 

 so severe that all the wheat crops were injured, and the 

 reports on the action of the cancerine were very contra- 

 dictory. Some, who tried it side by side with guano and 

 barn-yard manure, asserting that it is by no means equal 

 to them ; others claim that it is fully equal ; and others 

 still that it is superior to either. The manufacturers' cir- 

 cular shows very favorable reports from many thrifty and 

 observing farmers. It has met with universal approval 

 from those who have used it on summer crops, this season ; 

 corn, potatoes, &c., being greatly benefitted by it. 



Analysis of Cancerine. 



Water 9.321 



Organic matter 70.867 



Lime 4.358 



Phosphoric acid 2.714 



Sulphuric acid 5.170 



Alkaline salts 3.687 



Sand 3.883 



100.000 

 Ammonia, 10.750 per cent. 



The specimen analyzed was sent to me by Mr. Ingham, 

 one of the proprietors of the manufactory. It appears to 



