REPORT OF THE SOCIETY'S CONSULTING CHEMIST. 567 



This sample of burnt earth contained more lime and phosphoric 

 acid than is generally found, while the percentage of potash was quite 

 good. 



A similar sample which I received about the same time from the 

 burning of clay soil in Herefordshire gave : — 



Lime . . . . . . I'lg per cent. 



Phosptioric acid . . . . '24 ,, 



Potash "83 „ 



It must, however, be remembered that, while the application of 

 such burnt earth would supply the soil with certain amounts of potash, 

 phosphoric acid, and lime, these constituents Vv^ill be present in such 

 insoluble forms that they will only gradually become available for 

 plant use, and a material like burnt earth, though it may eventually 

 enrich the soil, cannot be regarded as in any way taking the place 

 of potash manures for the immediate use of crops. 



It would appear to me that, where farmyard manure is not available, 

 the supply of potash could best be made up by the use of a material 

 such as Peruvian guano, which contains naturally an appreciable 

 amount of potash. 



3. Waters. — {a) A w^ater sent from a new supply was found to 

 be turbid in appearance and to contain a great deal of suspended 

 matter. The matter turned out to consist largely of salts of iron. On 

 analysis, nearly 2 grains per gallon of iron, reckoned as oxide of iron, 

 was found, and this imparted to the water a distinct iron taste which 

 would render it unsuitable for use as a regular drinking supply, and 

 would also cause difficulty in respect of its employment in cooking 

 and washing. 



(b) A sample of water was sent with the object of ascertaining 

 whether it was suitable for horticultural purposes and for use in boilers. 

 Analysis gave the following results : — 



Total solid matters 



Chlorine 



Equal to chloride of sodium 



Nitric acid as nitrates 



Sulphuric acid 



Lnne 



Magnesia 

 Hardness 



GfainS per galloa. 

 22-gb 



I'22 

 2*00 



None 

 3.26 

 616 

 1-31 

 15-3 degrees. 



Though the hardness of this water was considerable, I should not 

 judge it to be sufficiently so to cause it to be objectionable for general 

 horticultural purposes, though for particular plants, such as Ericas, 

 Azaleas, and Rhododendrons, it might prove unsuitable. The hardness 

 was due to lime and magnesia salts, present both as carbonates and 

 sulphates. For use in boilers such a water must be expected to give 

 rise to a certain amount of difficulty. 



(c) On the complaint of a nurseryman that he had difficulty in 

 raising seedling plants, a sample of the water that was used for watering 

 the plants was sent to me. It v/as stated that hard woody plants, such 



