64
Potassium 4.70
Magnesium sulphate 1.70
Silica 0.09
Alumina 1.94
Ferric oxide 5.84
Calcium carbonate 22.33
Magnesium 3.39
Organic matter 4.20
Insoluble matter 941.47
Loss in analysis 4.00
Traces of phosphorous acid and ammonia.
The following remarks made by the chemists who made the analysis may be
of interest:
"The decay of wood arises from the presence in the wood of substances
which are foreign to the woody fiber, but are present in the juices of
the wood while growing, and consist of albuminous matter, which, when
beginning to decay, causes also the destruction of the other
constituents of the wood."
"One of the means adopted to prevent the destruction of wood by decay is
by the chemical alteration of the constituents of the sap."
"This is brought about by impregnating the wood with some substance
which either enters into combination with the constitutents of the sap
or so alters their properties as to prevent the setting up of
decomposition."
"The analysis of this soil shows that it contains large quantities of
the substances (sodium, potassium chloride, calcium, and iron) most used
in the different processes of preserving or kyanizing wood. It also
contains much inorganic matter, which also acts as a preserving agent.
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