Quarterly Reports of the Chemical Committee, 1884. 365 
from Mr. W. A. Eyles, agent for Mr. J, Bevan, corn merchant, 
Trowbridge. Of 17 cows who ate the cake all were taken ill 
shortly after, two dying within two days, and the rest were so 
ill they could scarcely walk. The 15 nearly lost their milk for 
six or seven days, and did not recover for a month. Another 
cow which did not eat any of the cake remained perfectly well, 
but a horse which broke loose and got at some of the cake nearly 
lost its life. Mr. Beavan, on being applied to for compensation, 
admitted that the cake had been bought of him, but refused to 
allow anything, saying that no written guarantee was given at 
the time of purchase. 
2. Mr. A. Ashdown, of Talbot Chambers, Shrewsbury, sent, 
together with other manures, on June 6th, 1884, one sample 
described as " sulphate of potash." 
The analysis and report were : — 
June 24th, 1881. 
Moisture 2 '05 
*Chloride of potassium II" 11 
Chloride of sodium, &c 86 • 84: 
100-00 
* Containing potash. G • 57 
" This is neither sulphate of potash nor genuine kainit. 
"Augustus Voelcker." 
A second sample sent on June 27th, gave on analysis : — 
Moisture 3-09 
'Chloride of potassium 6 "86 
Chlorides of sodium, magnesium, and other salts 90*05 
100-00 
* Containing potash 4-33 
The manures had all been purchased through Mr. Ashdown, 
for the Duke of Cleveland, from merchants in Liverpool. The 
sulphate of potash (so called) being invoiced at Gl. lOs. per ton, 
22 cwt., and guaranteed by the vendors at from 40 to 50 per 
cent., they explaining the wideness of the margin on the ground 
that they were not able to get any guarantee themselves on 
sulphate of potash, and were compelled to take it upon its 
merits. 
Dr. Voelcker's analysis being so very much below the 
guarantee, the purchaser declined to pay for the potash. The 
vendors expressed their astonishment at the analysis, and honestly 
admitted that they did not import sulphate of potash, and when 
they received the order in question, simply bought the supply 
from a dealer ; and having had another sample of it analysed 
