Farm Chemicals Volume 2-3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...3 equivalents of lime and one equivalent of phosphoric acid (lime, lime, lime, phosphoric acid) in per cent 45806 phosphoric acid in 100 parts, if pure; 54194 parts lime in 100 parts, if pure. Therefore, with bone or tricalcium phosphate you do not want to waste any money in the purchase of superfluous lime. Magnesia and oxide of iron exist in ample quantity, both in the soil and as impurities in the phosphate. The same may be said of commercial potash and ammonia salts. Thus it is that we narrow our expenses for mineral plant food to three commercial ingredients, viz: phosphate of lime, sulphate of potash and nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. These minerals must be intimately mixed together in proper proportions, when they may be broadcasted over the field or drilled in the furrows. There are three chemical forms of phosphate of lime: the principal one is the tribasic or bone phosphate forming the structure of bones. The second is the dior neutral phosphate, which contains two equivalents of lime, one of water and one of phosphoric acid; the third is the diphosphate, containing one of phosphoric acid, one of lime and two equivalents of water, which has replaced two equivalents of lime. The latter is the superphosphate of commerce; when fresh made it is completely soluble in water. The dicalcium phosphate is not readily soluble in water but is soluble in citrate of ammonia. The tricalcium phosphate is considered insoluble in water or citrate of ammonia, especially when subjected to their influence for a short time. Yet it is a well-known fact that water is a universal solvent under certain conditions, one of which is the extreme fineness to which the substance to be acted upon has been reduced. It is a trite saying that the constant drop wears away th...