

404 - REPoRT OF THE CHEMIST OF THE 
XXII EXPLANATION OF TERMS OF CHEMICAL 
ANALYSIS IN RELATION TO FERTILIZERS. 
By turning to the tables containing the analyses of fertilizers at 
the end of this report, it will be noticed that the following terms 
are used’ to express the results of the analysis of fertilizers : 
Nitrogen.— Determined as nitrogen ; equivalent to ammonia. 
Phosphoric Acid.— Available ; insoluble ; total. 
Potash soluble in water.— Determined as potash. 
The figures that are used to express the results of chemical 
analysis indicate parts per hundred, or, in other words, how many 
pounds there are of each constituent in 100 pounds of fertilizer. For 
example, take No. 119; under “ Determined as nitrogen,” we find 
the number, 3.49, which means that in 100 pounds of fertilizer 
there are 3.49 pounds of nitrogen. This amount of nitrogen 
is equivalent to 4.24 pounds of ammonia. Likewise, 100 pounds 
of the same fertilizer contain 13.21 pounds of available phos- 
phoric acid, 0.43 pound of insoluble phosphoric acid, 13.64 pounds 
of total phosphoric acid, and 2.92 pounds of potash soluble in 
water. 
NITROGEN. 
1. Determined as nitrogen. 
Nitrogen is a gas and, in this form, can not be used in fertilizers. 
Therefore, whenever we speak of nitrogen in fertilizers, we do not 
mean that nitrogen exists in them as simple nitrogen. The 
nitrogen in fertilizers is always combined with other elements 
and may be present in one or more different forms —(1st) in the 
form of nitrates, as nitrate of soda; (2d) in the form of ammonia 
compounds, as sulphate of ammonia; and (8d) in the form of 
organic matter, animal or vegetable, as dried blood, meat, tobacco 
stems, etc. Chemical analysis according to official methods does 
not attempt to ascertain and state in which form or forms the 
nitrogen is present ina fertilizer. Therefore, the numbers in the 
column under “ DETERMINED AS NITROGEN” are intended to state 
simply the amount of nitrogen present without regard to the form in 
which tt is present, or, expressed in another way, how much nitro- 
gen there would be, if it were present in the form of pure nitrogen 
or nitrogen gas. i 

