514 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE SOCIETY'S CONSULTING CHEMIST. 

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



The samples submitted for analysis during 1907 were not as many in 

 number as in 1906, there only being twelve samples analysed as against 

 twenty-seven. In addition to these, however, there were several miscel- 

 laneous inquiries on matters about which I was consulted by letter. 

 The list of samples is as follows : — 



Bone meal 2 



Waters 4 



Soils . . 4 



Sand . . . ; . . . .1 

 Miscellaneous 1 



12 



Bone Meal. — One of the two samples sent me gave the following 

 results : — 



Phosphate of lime . . . 48*72 per cent. 

 Ammonia 4*67 ,, „ 



The price of this was stated to be £6 10s. per ton. This is rather a 

 high price if bone meal be bought in any quantity, and for cash payment. 



A second sample, which was stated to have been bought as " Bone 

 Meal," turned out, on examination, to be not bone meal but " Steamed 

 Bone Flour," a material of less value because of the partial removal of 

 the nitrogenous matters. 



Waters. — Of the four samples of water submitted, one was distinctly 

 polluted by drainage water, and the other three were quite suitable for 

 drinking use and general purposes. Among the latter was a water which 

 contained only the small amount of 7'56 grains per gallon of total 

 solid residue. It was, accordingly, a water such as would be particularly 

 useful for horticultural purposes. 



A water of somewhat peculiar composition gave the following analytical 

 results : — 



Total solid residue . 

 Oxidi sable organic matter 

 Nitric acid 



Chlorine .... 

 Equal to chloride of sodium 

 Free ammonia . 

 Albuminoid ammonia 



Grain? per gallon. 



48-16 

 •11 

 None 

 11-91 

 19-62 

 •055 

 Trace 



The residue, 48-1G grains per gallon, was distinctly alkaline in nature, 

 and was found to consist mainly of magnesia and other alkaline salts, 

 and not of lime salts. Chlorides were especially prominent, and the 

 water partook somewhat of the character of a slightly saline or mineral 

 water. 



