192 Annual Rejwt of the Consulting Chemist. 
attention both in France and in Germany, — my paper having 
been translated into French and German, and published in the 
agricultural and scientific journals of France and Germany. 
Of the large number of waters (03) analysed for Members of 
the Royal Agricultural Society, I regret to say that a consider- 
able proportion was found to be largely contaminated with 
sewage or injurious drainage products, and therefore utterly 
unfit for drinking-purposes. 
As an example of such a water, one out of many, all showing 
that the water-supply in rural districts is still very defective, 
I may quote the following analysis. The water had a slightly 
yellow colour, and left a brown-coloured residue, which on 
exposure to a strong heat turned black, and gave off offensive- 
smelling fumes. 
An imperial gallon contained : — 
Grains. 
Organic matter * 78 
Phosphate of lime and oxide of iron and alumina) -\.-q^ 
(containing "49 of phosphoric acid) ) 
Carbonate of lime 22 "39 
Sulphate of lime 33 "71 
Nitrate of magnesia 13*47 
Nitrate of soda 11-03 
Chloride of sodium (common salt) 27 "65 
Alkaline carbonates 7 '80 
Soluble silica 3 -50 
Total solid constituents .. .. 121-38 
Actual (saline) ammonia '007 
Organic (albuminoid) ammonia *042 
Only two samples of potash-salts were sent to me for exami- 
nation during the past season, a fact which appears to indicate 
that potash-salts are not used extensively in England for agri- 
cultural purposes. The fact is, potash-salts have not been found 
in England to confirm the high expectations as to their ferti- 
lising value which were entertained of them at one time. 
On the other hand, nitrate of soda is growing more and 
more in favour with agriculturists. In consequence of this, as 
many as 61 samples, that is, a larger number than in any 
previous year, were sent for analysis, and none of them were 
found fraudulently adulterated ; but some were not up to the 
guaranteed quality at which they were sold, and compensation 
for the deficiency in value was readily granted, the sales having 
been made on the strength of a guaranteed quality. The 
majority of samples contained over 94 per cent, of chemically 
pure nitrate of soda. 
In speaking of nitrate of soda, I am reminded of an accident 
