Principles and practice of agricultural analysis. Volume 2 (of 3), Fertilizers

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate italics in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old spellings have been preserved, e.g. "dioxid" instead of "dioxide". Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURAL ANALYSIS.

A MANUAL FOR THE ESTIMATION OF SOILS, FERTILIZERS, AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

FOR THE USE OF ANALYSTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.

VOLUME II.

FERTILIZERS.

BY HARVEY W. WILEY, CHEMIST OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

EASTON, PA., CHEMICAL PUBLISHING CO., 1895.

COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY HARVEY W. WILEY.

PREFACE TO VOLUME SECOND.

In this volume an attempt has been made to treat the subject of fertilizers and fertilizing materials in the manner followed in the first volume with soils. The general principles of fertilizer manufacture and application have been presented in so far as they seemed to throw light on the rational method of examination and analysis. The standard methods of analysis in use in this and other countries, have been presented with sufficient fullness for the guidance of the skilled worker, and the information of the student. To those who make use of a book only for routine work or for preparation for an examination, this volume, as its predecessor, will be found to have little attraction. This fact, however, will not be a cause of regret to the author whose purpose has been, avowedly, to present to the busy worker and student a broad view of a great subject which each one does not have the time to search out for himself.

It is a matter of regret, however, that the contents of the volume have again exceeded all expectations. It was found impracticable to secure any greater condensation without departing from the purpose, and impairing the completeness of the work. When work is done with no prospect of financial compensation, it is gratifying to find it appreciated, and the author will be content to have this volume meet with as kindly a reception as has been accorded volume one.

HARVEY W. WILEY. WASHINGTON, D. C., End of July, 1895.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF VOLUME SECOND.

PART FIRST. PHOSPHATES AND PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS.

Introduction, pp. 1-4.—Natural fertilizers; Waste matters as fertilizing materials; Valuation of fertilizing ingredients.

General Analytical Processes, pp. 4-15.—Taking samples; Fertilizing minerals; Mixed fertilizers; French methods of taking samples; Sampling stable manures; Preparation of sample in laboratory; French and German methods; Drying fertilizer samples; Moisture in acid phosphates.

Analysis of Mineral Phosphates, pp. 15-39.—Constituents to be determined; Direct estimation of phosphoric acid; Official method; Preparation of solution; Use of tartaric acid; Determination of water and organic matters; Carbon dioxid; Soluble and insoluble matter; Silica and insoluble bodies; Estimation of lime; Ammonium oxalate method; Immendorff method; Estimation of iron and alumina; The acetate and Hess methods; Methods of Jones and Crispo; Geological Survey method; Method of Marioni and Fasselli; Method of Krug and McElroy; Method of Wyatt; Estimation of magnesia; of sulfuric acid; of fluorin.

General Methods for Phosphoric Acid, pp. 39-57.—Preliminary considerations; Estimation as stannic phosphate; Water soluble acid; Citrate insoluble acid; Total phosphoric acid; Norwegian methods; German experiment station methods; Soluble phosphoric acid; Swedish methods; Dutch methods; Errors in molybdate method; Color of pyrophosphate; Solution in sulfuric acid.

The Citrate Method, pp. 57-70.—General principles; Halle method; Swedish method; Methods adopted at the Brussels Congress; Dutch method for citrate soluble acid; Comparative accuracy of citrate and molybdate methods.

Basic Phosphatic Slags, pp. 70-86.—History and manufacture; Composition; Molecular structure; Solubility; Separation and solution; Estimation of total acid; Alternate method; Halle method of analysis; Dutch method; Estimation of citrate soluble acid in basic slags; Wagner’s shaking and digesting apparatus; Estimation of caustic lime in slags; Detection of adulteration.

Volumetric Determination of Phosphoric Acid, pp. 86-106.—Classification of methods; Uranium method; Preparation of sample; Precipitation of the phosphoric acid by magnesium citrate; Composition of magnesium citrate solution; Solution of ammonium magnesium phosphate; Preparation of standard solutions; Verifying standard solutions; Conduct of the analysis; Phosphoric acid in superphosphates; Determination of soluble and reverted phosphoric acid; Conclusions.

Titration of the Yellow Precipitate, pp. 106-118.—Pemberton’s method; Conduct of the analysis; Reactions; Calculation of results; Comparison with Official method; Titration as a lead compound; Water soluble acid; Estimation of phosphoric acid in presence of a large excess of iron; Emmerton method; Method of Dudley and Noyes; The Jones reductor; The volumetric silver method.

Technical Determination of Phosphoric Acid, pp. 118-125.—Desirability of methods; Reagents employed; Conduct of the molybdenum method; Conduct of the citrate method; Treatment of mineral phosphates and basic slags; Analysis of superphosphates.

Miscellaneous Notes on Phosphates and Phosphatic Fertilizers, pp. 126-150.—Time required for precipitation; Examination of the pyrophosphate; Iodin in phosphates; Chromium in phosphates; Estimation of Vanadium; Fluorin in bones; Note on separation of iron and alumina from phosphoric acid; Ammonium citrate soluble acid; Influence of time and strength of solvent on solution; Arbitrary Determination of reverted phosphoric acid; Digestion apparatus of Huston; Huston’s mechanical stirrer; Citrate method with small percentage of phosphoric acid; Direct precipitation of the citrate soluble phosphoric acid; Availability of phosphatic fertilizers; Direct weighing of the molybdenum precipitate.

Chemistry of the Manufacture of Superphosphates, pp. 150-156.—Reactions with phosphates; with fluorids; with carbonates; with iron and alumina; with magnesium compounds; Determination of quantity of sulfuric acid; Phosphoric acid superphosphates; Authorities cited in Part First.

PART SECOND. NITROGEN IN FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZING MATERIALS.

Kinds of Nitrogen in Fertilizers, pp. 161-169.—Determination of state of combination; Microscopic examination; Seeds and seed residues; Fish scrap; Dried blood and tankage; Horn, hoof, and hair; Ammoniacal nitrogen; Nitrogen in guanos; Nitric nitrogen.

Methods of Analysis, pp. 169-192.—Classification of methods; Official methods; Combustion in copper oxid; Official volumetric method; Mercury pump; Combustion furnace; Process of combustion; Method of Johnson and Jenkins; Calculating results; Reading barometer; Tension of aqueous vapor; Aqueous tension in solutions of potassium hydroxid; Tables for calculating results; Soda-lime process; Official French method; The ruffle soda-lime method; Official ruffle method; Boyer’s ruffle method.

Moist Combustion Process, pp. 192-220.—Historical; Method of Kjeldahl; Theory of the reactions; Preparation of reagents; Dutch kjeldahl method; Halle kjeldahl method; Official kjeldahl method; Distillation apparatus; Patrick’s distilling flask; Modification of the kjeldahl process; Method of Wilfarth; Method of Asboth; Method of Jodlbaur; Dutch jodlbaur method; Halle jodlbaur method; Official method for nitric nitrogen; Method of Scovell; Gunning method; Reactions of the gunning method; Official gunning method; Gunning method adapted to nitrates.

Determination of Nitrogen in Definite Forms of Combination, pp. 221-231.—Introductory considerations; Nitrogen as ammonia; Method of Boussingault; Determination of thiocyanates; Separation of albuminoid nitrogen; Separation of nitric nitrogen; Separation of ammoniacal nitrogen; Ulsch method for mixed fertilizers; Method of Schlöesing-Wagner; Schmitt’s modified method; Krüger’s method.

Sodium Nitrate, pp. 231-247.—Functions of sodium nitrate; Commercial forms of Chile saltpeter; Percentage of nitrogen in Chile saltpeter; Adulteration of Chile saltpeter; The Halle zinc-iron method for estimating nitrogen in Chile saltpeter; French method; Gantter’s volumetric method; Method of difference; Application of Chile saltpeter to the soil; Taking samples of soil to determine nitric nitrogen; The nitrifiable solution; Quantity of Chile saltpeter per acre; Consumption of Chile saltpeter; Authorities cited in Part Second.