of the Plants of Flax and Hemp. 103 



The steeping of flax to loosen the coat of fibrous bark is 

 accompanied by the solution of certain constituents of the 

 plant, as in the case of hemp. The extract of the steeping 

 water was analysed; it yielded, dried at 212°, 



Carbon 30-69 



Hydrogen 4*24 



Nitrogen 2*24 



Oxygen 20*82 



Ashes 42-01 



100*00 

 The organic part of this extract consisted therefore of 



Carbon 52*93 



Hydrogen 7*31 



Nitrogen 3*86 



Oxygen 35*90 



100*00 

 Here, as in the case of hemp, the nitrogen of the plant is 

 concentrated, but the total quantity of nitrogen is not half so 

 great. In the ash of the extract, as in the case of hemp, the 

 soluble alkaline matters also preponderate. The ashes of the 

 plant yielded 33*90 per cent, of matters soluble in water; 

 whilst the ashes of the flax-steep extract yield 60 per cent, of 

 matters soluble in water. The flax-steep is therefore rich in 

 all the materials necessary to produce a new generation of 

 plants; and Dr. Kane stated, as a satisfactory confirmation of 

 the views put forward in his memoir, that in many instances 

 where agriculturists have sprinkled land with the water in 

 which flax has been steeped, they have found it a most active 

 manure. 



After the flax fibre has been removed from the rotted stem, 

 the residue, or chaff, was found to be composed as follows: — 



Carbon 50*34 



Hydrogen 7*33 



Nitrogen '24 



Oxygen 40*52 



Ashes 1*57 



100*00 

 This is almost identical in composition with the residual hemp 

 stem, and may therefore be applied to the same uses. Restored 

 to the soil with the steep water, it should give back all that 

 the crop of flax had taken from the grounds, and thus the 

 valuable fibre being generated by the atmosphere, the great 

 source of expense in the cultivation of the plant might be re- 

 moved. 



Dr. Kane finally placed before the Academy certain tables, 



