494 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



dodder were found, though in small quantity. Grass seeds were 

 abundant, and there was a perceptible amount of the small black 

 seeds which the eye often detects in inferior oil-cakes. They are 

 the seeds of various species of the genus Polygonum. The 

 sample could not be considered as adulterated, for all the seeds 

 found in it were those of plants which had grown along with the 

 flax. The seed was remarkably free from sand. Its composi- 

 tion was — 



Here the large quantity of impurity produces a marked effect 

 on the composition of the cake, and again the effect is chiefly 

 in diminishing the percentage of albuminous compounds. This 

 is due to the fact, that the seeds with which the linseed was 

 mixed consisted largely of species remarkably poor in albuminous 

 compounds. In this case the quantity of impurity was so large 

 that it was easy by picking to obtain a sufficiently large quantity 

 for analysis, which gave the following result : — 



Analysis of the Impurities of Memel Linseed. 



Water, ...... 9-40 



Oil, ...... 9-05 



Albuminous Compounds, .... 12'06 



Mucilage, Gum, &c, .... 54-49 



Fibre, ...... 8-65 



Ash, 6-35 



100-00 



Nitrogen, . . . . . . 1'93 



The Ash contains — 



Phosphates, . . . . . 1'85 



Phosphoric Acid, combined with Alkalies, . 077 



Sand, ...... 3'35 



