154 Report OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 

It will be seen, therefore, that, as the average of the above 
analyses, there was found in the air-dry wood approximately 
one-half of 1 per cent. of ash, and that this ash contained 
upon an average one-quarter of its weight of potash and one- 
thirteenth of its weight of phosphoric acid. 
In order to determine the results in a manner comparable ‘ 
with actual practice, about an equal weight each of the following 
varieties of air-dried hard and soft woods were taken, and each 
lot was burned in a furious fire in an open hearth, ae the fol- 
lowing results: 
Hard woods. Soft woods. 4 
Elm. Spruce. : 
Soft maple. Pine. f 
Birch. Basswood. 4 
Beech. _ Hard pine. ; 
Maple. Hemlock. 9 
Chestnut. | White wood. - 
White ash. q 
Hickory. 
Red oak. 
Cherry. 
White oak. 
Red elm. 
Iron wood. 






The per cent. of ash obtained from the hard woods was .638 
and from the soft woods it was .5138. 
These ashes contained as follows: 

Sienoeres 2 eee \ 
Hard woods, | Soft woods, 
per cent. per cent, 
Ss | | Ht 
Total phosphoric acid......, jig Dee ee a 2.00 2.10 
Insoluble phosphoric acid...........00e eee 75 1637 am 
Available phosphoric‘atid ...... .....0. sees 1.25 Listy 
BECCA «5g 3-0 MER hs eee hs Xs1s Wim Sh eRe nCR Te 13.09 6.94 


In order to determine the approximate loss by burning at the a 
high temperature of the hearth, approximately equal quantities — 
of the same woods were taken and incinerated at a verylow 
