Chemists for the Years 1889 and 1890. 
167 
Moisture 676 
Organic matter 9 89 
Phosphoric acid 23 05 
Lime 23 ol 
Oxide of iron, alumina, Sec, .... 29 92 
Insoluble silicious matter 6 87 
100 00 
' Containing nitrogen .... 0 20 
equal to ammonia .... 0 24 
This material did not partake at all of the nature of Peru\-ian 
guano. It contained pi-actically no ammonia, and was simply a 
phosphatic material containing a large amount of iron and alumina. 
In another instance, a purchaser of a so-called " turnip manure," 
being doubtful of its quality, sent a sample for examination. The 
analysis showed : — 
Moisture 2360 
' Organic matter 10 02 
Sulphate of lime ....... 30'16 
Carbonate of lime 1'87 
Oxide of iron, alumina, &c. . . . . • 5'86 
Phosphate of lime 0'70 
Insoluble silicious matter 27'80 
100-00 
' Containing nitrogen .... 048 
equal to ammonia .... 0"o8 
This material was nothing but waste impure sulphate of lime, 
possessing very little value indeed. 
Waters. — During 1890 an exceptionally large number of samples 
of water were sent for analysis. This no doubt was mainly due to 
the scarcity experienced in the water-supply. INIany new wells were 
sunk, and disused wells were once more called into requisition. 
The water of these often proved to be greatly contaminated and 
altogether unfit for a drinking supply. Several waters, otherwise 
pure, contained, moreover, appreciable quantities of lead in solution. 
This in some cases amounted to as much as three-quarters of a grain 
per gallon. These were, as a rule, soft waters, but not in every 
instance. 
It may, in conclusion, be mentioned that, in addition to the 
list of analyses given at the commencement of this Report, a very 
large number (upwards of 800) of partial analyses of the soils of the 
Woburn experimental fields were made during the year 1890. 
J. Augustus Voelcker. 
E. "VV. Voelcker. 
