i9o6.] 



Use of Liquor from Gasworks. 



95 



used in these experiments yielded from .34 to .427 per cent, of 

 ammonia. In large works this water is treated with lime, and 

 yields a concentrated liquor which is sold to chemical manu- 

 factories for the production of sulphate of ammonia, but in small 

 gasworks this cannot always be done profitably, and the liquor 

 is allowed to waste. In some places, particularly in German 

 Switzerland, this liquor is given to farmers, who apply it to 

 pasture land in winter, either directly or mixed with liquid 

 manures. 



The experiment was carried out on a meadow which had 

 received a dressing of superphosphate and potash ; it was 

 divided into plots of about 100 square yards each, which were 

 watered on 20th March and 8th of June, that is, before and 

 after the first cutting, with progressive quantities of the 

 ammoniacal liquor. The first watering took place immediately 

 after the application of the fertilizers, while the second was pre- 

 ceded by a dressing of lime with the view of fixing the volatile 

 ammonia in the water. 



At the time of the first watering the grass had begun to grow 

 and was slightly burnt, but it quickly recovered and grew with, 

 renewed vigour. At the time of cutting the plots watered with 

 large quantities were noticeable at a distance for the length, 

 abundance, and greenness of the crop. The yields of dried fodder 

 were as follows : — 





Yield of hay per acre, 



Total. 



1st cutting. 



2nd cutting. 



1. Without watering ... 



2. 440 gallons per acre 



3. 880 gallons 



4. 1,320 „ ... 



cwt. qr. 



34 2 



35 2 

 37 2 

 42 2 



cwt. qr. 

 9 I 

 9 3 

 12 2 

 15 2 



cwt. qr. 



43 3 



44 5 

 50 0 

 58 0 



The application at the rate of 440 gallons per acre produced 

 only a very slight increase ; but three times that quantity re- 

 sulted in an increase of 14 cwt. i qr. per acre, an excess which 

 well repaid the cost of the transport and distribution of the 

 water, which was obtained free from the gasworks. 



The use of this gas liquor affected the botanical composition 



