Peruvian Guano. 
199 
and alkalies were determined by approved analytical processes, 
and in the soluble portion, those of soluble bone-earth, oxalic, sul- 
phuric, and phosphoric acid, of chlorine, potash, and soda. The 
percentages of nitrogen both in the solution and in the insoluble 
matter were also determined. 
The following Table embodies the results of these deter- 
minations : — 
No. I. No. U. No. in. 
Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. 
Portion soluble in water .. .. 57-01 .. 48'92 .. 48-01 .. 
Consisting of: — 
Moisture 15-14 .. 18-42 .. 16-56 
Tribasic phosphate of lime .. .. *60 .. "48 .. -44 
rhosphoric acid .. .. .. .. 2-62 .. 2-34 .. 2-38 
E Tnimc tlibaSiCPh0SPhate } " (5-68) - (5-08) .. (5.16) 
Sulphuric acid .'. .. 6-29 .. 2*88 .. 3-30 
Oxalic acid 5-70 .. 5-67 .. 5-18 
Chlorine T48 .. T50 .. 1-02 
Potash -3-69 .. P91 .. 1-71 
Soda 1-62 .. 1-47 .. -86 
*Ammoniacal salts and soluble"! 19-87 14 - 25 16'56 
organic matters ..../" 
Portion insoluble in water .. 42-99 .. 51-08 .. 51-99 .. 
Consisting of: — 
Insoluble phosphates .. .'. .. 19-52 .. 20-92 .. 21-60 
Oxalate of lime -77 .. 1\L7 .. 1-37 
Potash and soda -63 .. - 61 .. "77 
Insoluble siliceous matter") \-2\ 1.11 V51 
(sand) / 
flnsoluble organic matters .. .. 20-86 .. 27-27 .. 26-74 
100-00 100-00 100-00 
"Containing nitrogen 11-59 .. 9-88 .. Not 
Equal to ammonia 14-07 '.. 11-98 .. deter- 
tContaining nitrogen .. .. .. 3'82 .. 5'46 .. mined. 
Equal to ammonia .. .. .. 4 - 67 .. 6-63 
A glance at the preceding analytical result shows : — 
1 . That a large proportion of Peruvian guano is soluble in pure 
water. 
2. That a small quantity of bone-earth passed into the solution. 
3. That Peruvian guano contains soluble phosphoric acid in 
combination with alkalies in considerable quantities. 
4. That it contains also oxalic acid. • 
On washing guano with water the oxalic acid in com- 
bination with ammonia passes into the solution as oxalate 
of ammonia. 
5. That only a small amount of oxalic acid remained in the in- 
soluble portion as oxalate of lime. 
6. That the insoluble part of guano contained a little potash 
and soda. 
