790 Annual Report for 1892 of the ConSnliing Chemist. 
The analysis gave the following results : — 
Moisture 
* Organic matter 
Oxide of iron, &c 
Phosphate of lime 
Alkalies, Sec 
Sand 
' containing nitrogen 
equal to ammonia 
. 11-41 
. 8-01 
. G-92 
•G4 
. 2-58 
. 70-44 
100 00 
•11 
•13 
Contrary to the sender’s expectation, the dried mud contained very 
little lime, and was of no use for liming purposes. It had a small 
amount of phosphate and a little ammonia, but it would certainly 
not be worth the cost incurred in the cartage, although it was excep- 
tionally dry. 
Bird-cage Manure . — A sample of the droppings of cage-birds was 
sent to me by a member, and gave the following analysis ; — 
Moisture IPoO 
' Organic matter 74-70 
Phosphate of lime PIG 
Lime, &c 3 02 
Sand 0-G2 
100-00 
' containing nitrogen . . . . . 3 72 
equal to ammonia ..... 4-51 
Rape-cake (for manure). — My attention has been specially dra-wn 
to the frequent adulteration which takes place in the case of Eape- 
cake sold for manurial purposes. The English merchants who buy 
these cakes and sell them again to the farmers hnd it impossible to 
obtain any guaranteed analysis from the makers and importers, and it 
is found that the cakes almost invariably contain a percentage of sand 
varying from 8 to as much as 27 per cent., and reducing the nitrogen 
proportionately, thereby affecting very greatly the value of the 
cake. 
From my own experience I can speak as to this being the case, 
though I cannot altogether agree with the suggestion that has been 
made, viz., that, in the case of Rape-cakes used for manure, a certain 
maximum of sand should be permitted to exist. If this were done, 
it would, I fear, amount to a legalisation of admixture up to the 
allowed point. 
In the case of E,ape-cakes which are sold for feeding purposes, a 
guarantee of purity .should be given, and purchasers should insist 
upon having this. 
However, as a matter of fact, the use of Rape-cake as a feeding 
inaterial in this country has almost entirely gone out, and I have no 
doubt that the difficulty of obtaining it pure has had to do with the 
