Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 42 1 



mined were the sulphuric acid, the potash, and the soda, the first of 

 which was found, by precipitating with nitrate of barytes, to weigh 

 •92 grain. The potash and soda were separated by means of bi- 

 chloride of platinum and found to weigh respectively '24 grain and 

 •94 grain. The following then is a statement of the entire results : — 



grs. grs. grs. 



Water 281-14 



Organic matter 64*77 



fSulph. acid. -92 



("Soluble in water 3 05< ^ , ' ' ' ' „. 



Ashes 1-\a1 L Chlorin e.&c. '95 



AsheS ' 14< \ f Silica .... -60 



t i i-i • a nn) Perox.ofiron "22 



(Jnsoluble m water 4-22^ Alumina .^ 



LCarb.oflime 2-90 



Entire plant . 353*05 727 



100 parts of the plant would contain, — 



Water 79*64 



Organic matter. . . . IS'34 

 Ashes 2-02 



10000 



100 parts of the ashes again would contain approximately — 



Soluble salts. . . . 4272 42-72 



"Silica 8-43 



Peroxide of iron . 3*08 



Insoluble 59' 10-^ Alumina, or phos- \ fi , _ 



( phate of alumina J 

 I^Carb. of lime . . 40-62 



101-82 101-01 



II. Vanilla planifolia.— The following is the composition of a spe- 

 cimen of the Vanilla planifolia which I also examined. Although 

 called an epiphyte, it had roots in some of the pots. It is a very 

 succulent plant with a small round stem, and alternate petiolated, 

 elliptico-lanceolate, polished leaves : — 



Water 8906 



Organic matter .... 9*84 

 Ashes M0 



10000 



The ashes were similar in composition to those of the Commelina 

 Skinneri. They contained no alumina, and had a perceptible quan- 

 tity of phosphoric acid. It is probable therefore that the alumina in 

 the first analysis is accidental. 



These analyses were conducted under the direction of Dr. R. D. 

 Thomson in the College Laboratory of Glasgow. 



