Practical Agricultural Chemistry
Contents: Preface. I. Plant life: 1. Ultimate constituents of plants. 2. Proximate constituents of plants. 3. Proximate constitutes of plants (continued). 4. Chemical changes during germination. II. Soils: 5. Proximate constituents of soils. 6. Chemical properties of soil. 7. Physical properties of soil. 8. Mechanical analysis of soil. 9. Chemical analysis of soil. III. Fertilisers and manures: 10. Artificial nitrogenous manures. 11. Organic nitrogenous manures. 12. Phosphatic manures. 13. Potash manures. 14. Mixed manures and calcium compounds. IV. Feeding stuffs: 15. Composition of feeding stuffs. 16. Concentrated food-stuffs--oilcakes, pulses, cereals, etc. 17. Roots, green fodders, etc. 18. Secondary feeding stuffs, digestibility and determinations. V. Dairy products: 19. Milk. 20. Butter. 21. Cheese. VI. Examination of waters and soap: 22. Analysis of water. 23. Softening water for sprays--soft soaps. Index.
"This book is intended as a practical handbook in agricultural chemistry for students in agriculture and other examinations of similar types and standard.
In order to avoid the baldness that cannot be dissociated from a mere list of practical experiments, a short theoretical discussion has been given where necessary before each series of operations, in order to recall to the mind of the student the more salient points in connection with the practical work he has in hand. Emphasis has been placed on the qualitative side of the subject to a greater extent than is frequently done.
Throughout the book a fair knowledge is assumed on the part of the student of the commoner qualitative and quantitative processes of general chemistry, while in cases of estimations which are not generally included in a course of pure chemistry, such as, for example, the determination of the Iodine Value, Reichert-Meissl number etc., full practical directions are given. It may be also mentioned that all the experiments described in the text has been personally worked through by one or both of the authors.
It is hoped that the book, in this new edition, will still continue to be of value to those students engaged in the study of the scientific side of agriculture." (jacket)
