ANNUAL REPORT OF CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1919. 293 



ANNUAL REPORT OF CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1919. 



By Dr. J. A. Voelcker, M.A., F.L.S., F.I.C. 



Twenty-nine samples were submitted in 1919 by Fellows of the 

 Society for analysis. As usual, the majority of these, viz., 17, were 

 of soils, 2 being waters, 4 fertilizers of different kinds, 2 lime, and 

 the remaining 4, miscellaneous materials. 



It is satisfactory to find that the reports on soils appear to be 

 appreciated, and it is believed that useful guidance has been afforded 

 by them. There has been a tendency of late years to decry the 

 utility of soil analyses, but I have always maintained that, in capable 

 hands, a soil analysis, rightly interpreted, can afford real informa- 

 tion, and it is certainly well that a man should know what his soil 

 contains, and whether it be lacking in any particular constituent, 

 so that he may pursue a course of manuring or treatment appropriate 

 and economical. I am far from claiming that all that one requires is 

 to be furnished with the analysis of a soil, for there are other features, 

 such as the mechanical and physical conditions, which have to be 

 taken into account also ; but the expert, conversant with his subject, 

 will not omit to consider these other points also. 



1. Manures. — Of the four samples sent, one was of phospho-guano, 

 which contained 1671 per cent, of phosphate of lime, with 3-81 per cent, 

 of ammonia. A second was cake-dust (coco-nut), this having 71-33 

 per cent, of organic matter, 2-97 per cent, of phosphate of lime and 

 4-26 per cent, of ammonia. The third was one of shoddy manure, 

 this containing 4-32 per cent, of ammonia. 



The fourth sample was ground fowl manure, the analysis being : 



per cent. 



Moisture . . . . . . .17-51 



* Organic matter and salts of ammonia . . 57 - o6 

 **Phosphoric acid . . . . . . 1-78 



Lime ........ 3-44 



Magnesia, alkalis, &c. ..... 7-07 



Sand ........ 13*14 



ioo-oo 



♦containing nitrogen . . . . . 2-62 



equal to ammonia. . . . . . 3* 18 



** equal to phosphate of lime . . . . 3-89 



This had been collected at the Member's own farm, and was dried 

 and ground by him for use in fruit-growing. This was only a moderate 

 sample, and I have had others analysing considerably higher, viz. up 

 to 6 per cent, of ammonia and 8 per cent, of phosphates. 



2. Lime, Ground Oyster Shells, &c. — The need of liming land has 

 been very much brought out in recent years, and lime is undoubtedly 

 the constituent generally found lacking in soils. With the ploughing 



