EEPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 141 



To resolve this doubt, they were finally submitted to the inspectiou of 

 the botanist of the Departmeut, who pronounced No. 1 leaves from the 

 StypJwnia intcgrifoUa, and No. 2 undetermined, but neither of them 

 true sumac, Elms glabra. 

 A i)roximate analysis gave for — 



No. 1. {HUjMand.) 



Tauuiu 13.10 



Vegetable nb'jr, &C 86. 90 



100. 00 

 No. 2. {Loidand.) 



Tauuiu 7.92 



Vegetablo Hber, & c 92. OS 



100. 00 



A package of sumac leaves from Oregon, Holt County, Missouri, was 

 sent by Clarke Irvine, with the request that the per cent, of tannin be 

 determined. The leaves gave — 



Tauniu 23.075 



Vegetable fiber, &c 76. 925 



100. 000 



These determinations of tannin were made by the process of Lowcu- 

 thal, with very sati'sfactory results. 



A species of aquatic grass, {Sporoholus cryptandrus,) which is found 

 along the southern shore of Lake Erie, produces a coarse, hemp-like 

 fiber. A sample of this Avas sent to the laboratory by If. C. Beardslee, 

 of Painsville, Ohio, for the purpose of determining its adaptation to the 

 manufacture of paper. The fiber is composed of — 



luorganic matter 1.947 



Celluliu 98.053 



100. 000 



showing its good qualitj' for the use proposed. 



W. A. Heirs, of Kew Iberia, Louisiana, sent to the laboratory a sam- 

 ple of peat-muck, to ascertain its value as a fertilizer. An analysis 

 shows it to be composed of — 



Water, determined at 100° C 21. 300 



Organic matter 38. 200 



Oxides of iron aud aluminum - 2. 832 



Phospboric acid „ 0. 678 



Lime 0. 320 



Magnesia 0. 388 



Silica 35. 622 



Potash a trace 



Loss 0. 660 



100.000 



The chief manurial value of this muck is in 38 per cent, of organic 

 matter, which is principally carbonaceous, and will make it an excellent 

 absorbent in composting slable-manure. 



A package of shale, or decomposing rock, from Spring Bluff, Adams 

 County, Wisconsin, was sent to the laboratory by J. H. Philips, with a 

 request that its value as a fertilizer be determined. Analysis shows it 

 to be composed of — 



Water, determined at 100'^ C 1.089 



Silica 43.110 



