Arnold- Slag is not pure iron, it is the light molten fraction that floats above the dense pure iron in the blast furnace refining process. It is high in calcium, silica, with magnesium, alkalis, iron and many other trace elements that are present in iron ore or added to make specialty steels. Elements like manganese, cobalt, chromium and maybe sulfur. Most slags that I have used in industrial applications are rather alkaline and I would expect the leachate to be alkaline. I can't imagine using it on or around growing plants unless they are alkali loving types. At a steel mill near here there were large slag heaps over twenty years old with still nothing but a few grasses growing on them. This makes me think slag could be used along gravelly garden paths to keep grass and weeds out. Could that be what this "Black Beauty" stuff is meant for? However, fast quenched slag can be frothy like lightweight aggregate or similar to pumice. In that case, I would recommend using it in Hypertufa trough construction but not as a soil component. Pat Colville Question: 2. I picked up some slag ( Black Beauty) and would like to use it to dress some potted tender bulbs that I place outdoors for the summer. I know it is basically pure iron, any down sides to using it like leaching poisons in to the soil.. Arnold _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php