Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1884 — About Soot. [ARTICLE]

About Soot.

Chimney soot is one of the richest fertilizers known. That from ceal is very rich in ammonia. When coal is burned ammonia is set free, and during the various changes which take place during the process, sulphite and carbonate ammonia are both formed. Soot is a highly compound substance, containing in its composition not only ammonia but lime, sulphuric add, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, magnesia, potash, acetic acid, chlorine, and iron, nearly all of which are valuable, directly or indirectly, as fertilizers. Its value is •well known in England, where it sells for £lO per ton, or about S4B. It is often thrown away as worthless by those who do not know its worth, but careful farmers should save every ounce of soot for use. Sprinkled around some kinds of plaiits it often prevents attack from insects, and the rums then carry it down into the earth, where it does duty as a fertilizer. Soot from coal has been once thought to be a very worthless substance, but experience and science have taught us to knoiy better.