MONTHLY 
Vol.  XII.] 
COLOMBO,  JANUARY  2ND,  1893. 
[No.  7. 
CEYLON  MANUAL  OF  CHEMI- 
CAL ANALYSES  : 
A HANDBOOK  OF  ANALYSES  CONNECTED  -WITH 
THE  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  HEALTH  OF 
CEYLON  FOR  PLANTERS,  COMMERCIAL 
MEN,  AGRICULTURAL  STUDENTS, 
AND  MEMBERS  OF  LOCAL 
BOARDS. 
Uy  M.  COCHRAN,  m.a.,  f.c.s., 
Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Ceylon  Medical  College, 
Oily  Analyst  to  the  Municipality  of  Colombo,  Member 
of  the  Ceylon  Branch  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society. 
PREFACE. 
H E following  pages  contain 
a record  of  analytical  work 
connected  with  the  various 
industrial  enterprises  and 
with  the  public  health  of 
Ceylon.  A large  portion  of 
the  work  is  necessarily  de- 
voted to  agri-horticultural  enterprises,  these  form- 
ing the  chief  industries  of  the  island. 
The  work,  in  great  part,  may,  therefore,  be 
regarded  as  a contribution  to  the  agricultural 
chemistry  of  Ceylon  ; and,  as  such,  it  is  hoped 
that  it  will  have  an  interest  for  planters,  com- 
mercial men,  and  students  of  agriculture.  I have, 
by  way  of  illustration  and  comparison  of  Ceylon 
resources  and  products  with  those  of  other  coun- 
tries, drawn  largely  oh  the  work  of  others,  laying 
Under  .contribution  the  best  authorities  within 
my  reach  on  the  subjects  treated  of.  I trust 
this  has  added  to  the  value  of  the  Manual ; and 
that  the  book,  as  a Whole,  may  be  regarded  as 
a step  towards  the  supplying  of  a felt- want,  botli 
on  account  of  the  comparatively  full  information 
supplied  on  some  subjects,  and  by  drawing  at- 
tention to  the  lack  of  information  on  others,  thus 
indicating  lines  of  future  investigation.  Amongst 
the  subjects  still  requiring  analytical  treatment 
may  be  mentioned  paddy  and  coconut  soils,  the 
annual  rainfall,  grasses,  trees  useful  for  shade 
or  fruit  bearing,  Ceylon-grown  cereals  and  food 
stuffs.  The  chemical  examination  of  clays  useful 
to  the  potter  and  cement  manufacturer  is  like- 
wise a desideratum.  The  mineral  resource® 
the  island  have  received  but  little  attention  from 
a chemical  point  of  view.  For  want  of  time 
and  of  skilled  assistance,  I have  been  unable  to 
undertake  any  investigations  purely  from  motives 
of  scientific  interest ; hence  the  mineral  analyses 
undertaken,  as  distinct  from  analyses  of  soil®, 
are  confined  to  surface  rocks  occurring  on  estates, 
plumbago  and  clay.  A short  chapter  on  precious 
stones  and  gems  has  been  compiled  from  the 
work  of  others.  The  value  of  precious  stones  ie 
based  on  their  physical  properties  rather  than 
upon  their  chemical  composition ; still  the  latter 
subject  is  of  sufficient  interest  to  justify  the  in- 
sertion of  several  analyses  of  precious  stones 
and  gems. 
The  direct  bearing  that  the  food  and  water 
supplies  and  the  disposal  of  town  refuse  have 
on  the  public  health,  required  the  introduction 
pf  many  analyses  which  will  have  an  interest 
for  all  Who  are  concerned  for  the  public  health. 
Iin  this  department  further  investigations  are 
much  to  be  desired. 
Colombo,  September,  1892. 
Chapter  I.— SOILS  AND  ROCKS. 
Practical  utility  of  soil  analysis— failure 
IN  SPECIAL  INSTANCES  TO  DETECT  THE  CAUSES 
OF  INFERTILITY— DIRECTIONS  FOR  SAMPLING 
SOILS  FOR  ANALYSIS— ANALYSIS  OF  INFERTILE 
PADDY  SOIL— ANALYSIS  OF  BURMA  RICE  SOIL- 
ANALYSIS  OF  JAPAN  RICE  SOILS — COFFEE  AND 
TEA  SOILS— DOLOSBAGE  SOILS— MATALE.  SOILS— 
SOMBREORUM  MANURE — DIMBULA,  MASKELIYA, 
MATALE,  AND  VARIOUS  OTHER  SOILS— SOUTH 
COORG  SOILS— BURNT  SOIL— FIJI  SOIL— CLAS»I- 
FICATION  OF  CEYLON  COFFEE  AND  TEA  SOILS— 
ROCKS  AND  STONES  ON  HILL  COUNTRY  ESTATES 
IN  CEYLON. 
As  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  is  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  industries  of  Ceylon,  it  is  appro. 
