a 
192 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
some cases passing through the mass and leaving the ash nearly free 
from carbon. 
The crude ash was treated with water on the water bath, and after- 
wards with dilute H NO,, the two solutions being mixed and made to 
a definite bulk. 
The residue insoluble in H NO, consisting of coal, sand, and most of 
the silica, was ignited to remove the carbon, and the SiO, was separated 
from the sand by concentrated solution of NaOH. 
One third (a) of the solution being set apart for a determination of 
Cl and SO;, the rest was evaporated to dryness, to separate the SiO, 
soluble in H NO, in many cases this being sufiicient to gelatinize the 
liquid as it became concentrated. 
After separation of this SiO., the solution was divided in halves— 
(b) and (c)—each representing thirds of the original solution. In the 
first third (a), from which the Cl had not been removed by evaporation 
with HNO, a standard solution of AgNO; gave the amount of Cl, 
and after removal of the excess of Ag, SO; was determined as usual. 
In another third (b) P,O;,CaO, and MgO were determined, P.O; 
being separated by NaC,H,0,, and FeCl, as basic phosphate dissolved 
in H Cl, and, after addition of excess of C,H; O,, precipitated as PO, Mg 
NH;. In the filtrate from the basic phosphate CaC,O, is precipitated 
as usual, ignited and dissolved in HCl. After evaporation to dryness 
and addition of a few drops of NH,OH to remove any Fe: Cl, present, 
the CaCl, is fused and the Cl determined volumetrically. From this 
the CaQ is calculated. In the filtrate from Ca C,O, the Mg was deter- 
mined as usual. 
In the third portion (c) oxalic acid was added in crystals and the solu- 
tion warmed on the water bath till no more nitrous fumes were evolved, 
then evaporated to dryness and heated on the sand bath till the excess 
of oxalic acid was driven off, the heat being toward the end increased 
to convert all the oxalates to carbonates. This removes most of the 
lime and magnesia on filtration. To the filtrate baric hydrate is added 
to remove any magnesia and phosphoric acid which may remain. The 
excess of barium is removed by ammonic carbonate and the alkalies 
remain as carbonates in the filtrate, and hydrochloric acid is added to 
convert the carbonates to chlorides, which are gently heated, and if any 
carbon is present the solution is refiltered. In the mixed chlorides the 
chlorine was determined volumetricaily and also gravimetrically, and 
the proportions of Na and K were calculated by the indirect method. 
From the sum of all substances determined the per cent. of pure ash 
in the grass was calculated. 
The percentage composition of the ash was reckoned to unity in the 
usual manner. 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN DESCRIBING GRASSES. 
Acuminate—Extending into a long, tapering point. 
Acute—Sharp-pointed. 
Amuual—Living through one season only. 
Anther—The upper part of the stamen containing the pollen or fertiliz- 
ing powder. 
Awn—A bristle-like process proceeding from or attached te the glumes 
or palets of some grasses. 
Biennial—Living through two seasons. 
hoat-shaped—Concave within and convex without, as the glumes and 
palets of some flowers. 
