

321 
less digestible than in raw meal. In hay there was a difference of 
14 per cent. in favor of the unsteamed. 
PHospHORIC ACID. 
The depth to which it may be carried in the soil: 
To determine to what depth in asoil the phosphoric acid of a fer- 
tilizer might be washed, these experiments were undertaken. 
The experiments were carried on in glass jars six inches in diame- 
ter and nine and one-half deep. ‘These were filled with soil and 
covered with a perforated glass. 
Water was supplied by means of a delivery flask. By this ar- 
rangement a known quantity could be supplied, the flow regulated 
and kept constant. A watch glass inverted beneath the falling wa- 
ter served to distribute it evenly over the surface. The soil used in 
the experiment was a clayey loam garden soil and contained .147 per 
cent. of P, O,, andas air dried 11.25 per cent. of moisture. 
Experiment No. 1. 
A jar was filled with this air dried soil, and 20 grams of Bowker’s 
Alkaline phosphate mixed with the surface soil. N one of the phos- 
phate was allowed to come within three-fourths of an inch of the 
edge to prevent its being washed down in the Space between the 
earth and glass. About ten pounds (4535 grams) of soil were used, 
containing 6.66 grams of P, O,, and the phosphate applied contain- 
ed 2.66 grams. 
Distilled water was added sufficiently slow, so that only at the end 
of 22 hours had the earth become saturated, having retained 925 cu- 
bic centimeters of water besides the 50%cc. that it originally con- 
tained. 
The first water to drain through contained phosphoric acid, and 
quantative tests showed the acid to be increasing as the washing ad- 
vanced. After 2385 cubic centimeters had come through, the drain- 
age water was saved until 4841cc. had been collected, and only traces 
of phosphoric acid were to be had. This drainage water was evap- 
orated to a small quantity and the P, O, determined, showing 
-1485 grams as the amount having been washed out of the earth, 
besides whatever amount may have been in the first 2385cc. of per- 
colations, 
3195cc. more of drainage water was collected and no traces of 
phosphoric acid were to be found. The supply of water was shut off 
for 36 hours and then again resumed when the drainage water gave 
phosphoric acid, but all traces soon ceased, 
Distilled water charged with carbonic acid was then used, and af- 
ter 1000cc. had passed through, phosphoric acid was again present 
and continued in marked quantities so long as carbonic acid water 
was used. 
An analysis of the soil was then made. A sample from the sur- 
face gave .245 per cent. of P, O,; one from the center only .0002 
per cent., while that from the bottom was too small for determina- 
tion, 
21 
