New York AGricuLTuRAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 885 
SEDIMENT IN COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS. 
Of the commercial preparations examined, only one brand 
contained sediment in appreciable amounts and the percentage 
varied widely in the different samples. It was reported that in - 
Some cases the barrel was so filled with solid matter that the 
material would not run out. In the tables below we give the 
composition of the sediment and also the number of pounds of 
each constituent present in 50 gallons. The specific gravity of 
the sediment in these cases varied from 2 to 2.25, averaging 
about 2.15, making one gallon weigh about 18 pounds. 
TABLE XVI.— COMPOSITION Or SEDIMENT IN COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS. 

Sulphur. . 
Sample. utr i i We. se rt ee Es ee ee Bea OS) pee pee 
ment. In form {Inform | GUS) ResiUm.. minum: 
Total. Free. of sul- of sul- 
phite. phate. 
Per ct. Perch Per ct. Perict Per ci. Perch Pert: Perit: 
D 0.43 70s — — —— 17.78 9.37 Pa PAT) 
E 12.82 22.69 6.75 13.97 1.97 15873 i= Bis 1.08 
F 19.35 D2eGr 5.93 ua) bral 1.03 LG SSie Lies: Thee 
G 8.16 16.92 0.88 15.60 0.44 15.20 1ORTS 1.05 

It is a matter of interest and importance to learn what con- 
stituents are present in the sediment of the preparation in 
question, expecially since peculiar value as a scalecide has been 
persistently claimed for such sediment. The analytical data 
show,— (1) that the sulphur is more largely calcium sulphite 
than any other form and (2) that.a considerable portion of the 
remainder consists of magnesium, with small amounts of iron 
and aluminum compounds. The iron may be present in the 
form of sulphide and, if present in sufficient amount, imparts 
to the sediment when dried a grayish color. Magnesium and 
aluminum are present mainly as hydroxides. The amounts of 
magnesium, iron and aluminum present in a sediment depend 
upon the amounts of those constituents in the lime used. It is 
evident from the composition of the sediment found in the 
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