REPORT OF THE CONSULTING CHEMIST FOR 1917, 523 
constitute manurial value apart from the mechanical advantages of 
using such material on land, especially heavy land, that wanted 
" opening out." The nature of the crude matter used, and the very 
complete burning, accounted largely for this superiority. 
5. Sewage Sludge. — This material was being used to dig into 
garden soil. It was, however, of decidedly low quality and had, as 
will be seen, nearly 75 per cent, of water. It was reckoned to cost 
5s. per ton ; but this was more than it was worth, and, unless where 
soil may be deficient in vegetable matter or at all likely to " burn," 
it is doubtful if such sludge is worth applying. 
The analysis was : 
Per cent. 
74-67 
n-59 
i-86 
0-96 
0-05 
0- 41 
1- 14 
9-32 
Water . . 
Organic matter 
Oxide of iron and alumina 
Lime 
Potash . 
♦Phosphoric acid 
Magnesia &c. 
Sand 
ioo-oo 
Nitrogen ...... 0*19 
Equal to ammonia ..... 0-23 
♦Equal to phosphate of lime . . . 0*89 
6. Waters. — In consequence of a complaint sent me that Peaches 
and Vines in several houses had been injured, while in others no harm 
had been experienced, an inquiry was pursued in respect of the water 
supply, and particulars were obtained as to what had been the treat- 
ment in the different houses. It was stated that the leaves of Peaches 
and Vines decayed after watering, and that with Tulips the flowers 
became spotted and the leaves died back. On the other hand, in a 
Vinery where only " damping " had been done, but no syringing, the 
Vines were unaffected. 
It was ascertained that the water supply came from two sources, 
the one a lake, the other a well. The locality was in Dorsetshire, 
quite close to the sea. Water was normally raised from the lake by 
means of a ram, but, the ram having got out of order, the water from 
the well had been used all the winter and spring. The ram having been 
put in order again early in May, the supply from the lake was used on 
May 10, and by May 13 the injury aforesaid was noticed. I had samples 
of the two waters sent me, and the analyses of these were : 
Lake water. Well water. 
Grains per gallon. Grains per gallon. 
Total solid matters .... 200-48 20*16 
Oxydizable organic matter . . . 0-98 4-03 
Nitric acid as nitrates .... -07 -07 
Chlorine . . . . . .98-66 4*96 
Equal to chloride of sodium (common salt) 162-49 8-i8 
It will be seen that the lake water contained a very excessive amount 
of salt, which probably had filtered in from the sea, and this undoubtedly 
had been the cause of the injury to the plants. The presence of 
