338 [Assembly 



In the fruit of this plant we see a remarkable instance of the 

 extent to which water may exist in a plant. But about 3 J lbs. 

 of dry matter is contained in 100 lbs. of the fresh fruit. One 

 ton would contain but about 70 lbs. of dry matter. Hence one 

 ton of fresh cucumber fruit, contains less dry matter than IJ 

 bushels of wheat. One ton of fruit of the Long Prickly, con- 

 tains of inorganic matter 7.24 lbs. One ton of the White Spine, 

 7.44. 27,624 lbs. of fresh fruit of the Long Prickly variety,, 

 and 26,178 lbs. of fresh fruit of the White Spine variety, give 

 each 100 lbs. of inorganic matter. These 100 lbs. of inorganic 

 matter are severally constituted as follows': 



100 lbs. as. of 100 lbs - as. of 

 Long Prickly. White Spine. 



Carbonic acid, 13.25 13.26 



Silicic acid, . 70 0.80 



Phosphoric acid, 18.9a 17.26 ^ 



Phosphate of iron, 3.10 2.74 



Lime, 4.30 4.40 



Magnesia,. .20 .34 



Potash 23 . 20 23 . 30 



Soda, 33.75 33.86^ 



Chlorine, 1.10 1.46 



Sulphuric acid, 0.90 1.40 



Organic matter, trace trace 



99.40 98.42 



The inorganic matter, as is seen, is composed mostly of phos- 

 phoric acid, potash and soda. This would indicate that ashes, 

 bones, and common salt, would be an excellent inorganic manure 

 foi them. 



Froximate Organic Analysis. 



100 lbs. Long Prickly. 100 lbs. White Spine. 



Fresh Fruit. I>ry Fruit. Fresh Fruit. Dry Fruit. 



Albumen, .356 7.778 ,347 7.699 



Casein, 040 0.872 ,062 1.357 



Dextrine, 354 7.736- .264 5.894 



Sugar and extract, 2.826 67.756 3.036 0.065 



Starch, 002 0044 0.003 66.624 



Chlorophyl, 006 0.132 0.005 Q.1Q8 



