324 Quarterly Report of the Chemical Committee , June , 1894 . 
Dr. Voelcker’s report on the sample sent him by Col. Milligan 
was as follows : — 
April 26, 1894. 
Moisture 24-85 
1 Organic matter 20'94 
Phosphate of lime 7-49 - 100 00 
Carbonate of lime, oxide of iron, &c. . . . 28 - 66 
Sand . 18-06, 
1 containing nitrogen (total) ..... 2-97 
equal to ammonia ..... . 3 - 61 
An extravagant price to pay. The manure is a comparatively poor 
one, and, if the price is for cash, I call it just about twice too dear. 
On receipt of this report, Col. Milligan complained to the vendors 
of the quality, and received the following reply from them : — 
May 2, 1894. 
Dear Sir, — In reply to yours to hand this morning we beg to say we 
sent on April 10 last one ton bone manure at 6/. per ton and one ton at 51. 
per ton. The query is, Out of which quality was the sample sent for 
analysis to Mr. J. A. Voelcker ? We fail to understand analysis arrived at by 
this gentleman, as it differs from that of ours. We beg to say ours of that 
at 6/. per ton was taken from bulk heap of manure from which it was 
bagged — that is, the 6/. per ton. In explanation we may say that the sample 
you have sent may not have been properly and thoroughly blended with 
bulk lot, which is often likely to occur if the men are a little careless in the 
mixing. Then, again, every ton of manure we send out for root crops contains 
2 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia added before bagged up, value of which is 
13/. 12s. 6d. per ton. This Mr. Voelcker would not, we presume, analyse 
to its value, as in the case also of nitrate of soda, and the prepared raw 
hones of which our manure contains large proportions, sometimes fails in 
parts or portions of arriving at a correct analysis. I shall see Mr. Ashmull to- 
morrow (Thursday) afternoon at Burton, and will then give a further explana- 
tion to him of the difficulties of making a careful investigation of the quali- 
ties, the test of which is best seen in the application and the results. No 
single case has yet been known of a failure. The results hitherto have been 
highly satisfactory, and I think I may with safety say this has been so in 
your experience of its use, for we have now supplied you a few seasons 
with it. I shall not ask for payment until you have been satisfied with the 
results. In your case I dare venture on the above terms, on principle. — I 
remain, dear Sir, yours truly, (for) E. Dean & Sons, Hugh Dean. 
Col. Milligan replied : — 
89 Sloane Street, S.W. : May 7, 1894. 
Messrs. Dean & Son. 
Sirs, — In reply to yours of 2nd inst. I hear from my bailiff that there 
is no doubt about the sample sent to Dr. Voelcker being taken from the 6/. 
per ton lot of “ Blood and Bone ” manure, and also that it was taken accord- 
ing to the rules laid down. A duplicate sample is in his possession, which 
you can have to be analysed by the County Council analyst, or if you are 
not satisfied that the sample has been properly taken, come over to Caldwell 
next week, or send a representative, and take a fresh sample in my presence. 
Dr. Voelcker, whom I saw on Saturday, states that he has determined the 
whole of the ammonia in whatever form present. 
