140 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



Shell-marl from Queen Anne's County, Maryland, presented by Thomas 

 Hill, Baltimore, gives, on analysis — 



Wnter, cletcrminea at 100^ C 0,2700 



Carbonate of liiue 57. 0445 



Phosphoric acid 0. 7097 



Peroxide of iron and alumina 2. 1103 



Silica 3t).8655 



100. 0000 



A Specimen of phosphatic marl (mineral phosi)hate) from near Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina, furnished by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 gives — 



Water, determined at 100^ C 4.4750 



Organic niatter 33.8400 



Insoluble silica 7. 8620 



Soluble silica 0.6650 



Sesquioxide of iron and aluminum '. . , 6. 2712 



Insoluble phosphoric acid 16. 3485 



Soluble phosphoric acid 1. 3860 



Lime 18.0591 



Magnesia 0.1360 



Potassa 0.1541 



Soda 1.3286 



Chlorine 0.5960 



Sulphuric acid 6. 8712 



Loss 0.0073 



* 100. 0000 



MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES. 



An alkaline deposit found near El Paso del Norte, Mexico, was reported 

 to the Secretary of State as carbonate of potassa, by William L. Pier- 

 son, vice-consul at El Paso, and was referred to this Department for 

 analysis by the Second Assistant Secretary of State. Its composition 

 is — 



Water, determined at 100° C 3. 8168 



Sulphate of soda 11.4948 



Sulphate of potassa 1.3000 



Chloride of sodium 5. 0967 



Carbonate of soda 7. 3915 



Bicarbonate of soda 70.9002 



100. 0000 



A species of yucca, which grows abundantly in rocky and sterile 

 localities in Utah Territory, and which is used extensively by the na- 

 tives as an article of food, was forwarded to the laboratory by J. E. 

 Johnson, Saint George, Utah. The yucca has a bulbous root, which is 

 roasted in hot saud until it is soft, in which condition it serves as food. 

 The specimen sent to the laboratory had been roasted some thirty days, 

 yet it showed no sign of fermentation. A j^roximate analysis gave, 

 after drying — 



Glucose 7. 3828 



Albuminoid substances 0. 2168 



Vegetable liber and inorganic matter 92. 4004 



100. 0000 



Two specimens of leaves, marked "Highland Sumac "and" Lowland 



Sumac," were sent to the laboratory from San Diego, California, by A. M. 



Gass. On close inspection of the leaves, a doubt was raised as to the 



botanical character of the plant from which the leaves were obtained. 



