AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



299 



664. ASPARAGUS (A officinalis,) owes its flavor and proper 

 ties to a peculiar, easily cry stall izable neutral substance (C 8 N 4 

 H,6 0,5 which occurs in several plants, as the Marsh-mallow, 

 Cumfrcy, Potato &c, called Asparagine. 



665. LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa,) owes its value to a narcotic 

 principle called Lactucin. It acts upon the brain after the man 

 ner of Opium, and induces sleep ; eaten during the day, it calms, 

 soothes, and allays the tendency to nervous irritability. It is 

 probable that it might be fed with a good effect to fattening an 

 imals ; in a favorable soil, it is cultivated with great facility. 

 (SeeBlackwoods Magazine, Dec. 1853,^. 679.J 



666. Analysis of the Musk melon ( Cucumis meloj (A;) 

 Watermelon ( Cucitrbita citrullusj (B ;) and Cucumber ( Cu 

 cumis sativus,) (C.) (Salisbury.) 



Percentage of water 1 , dry matter, and ash : 



Percentage of water, 



&quot; of dry matter, 



&quot; of Ash, 



&quot; of Ash in dry matter, 



Ultimate analysis of the above : 

 Nitrogen, 

 Oxygen, 

 Carbon, 

 Hydrogen, 

 Inorganic matter, 



Inorganic analysis of the above : 

 Carbonic acid, 

 Silicic acid, 

 Phosphoric acid, 

 Sulphuric acid, 

 Phosphate of iron, 

 Lime, 

 Magnesia, 

 Potash, 

 Soda, 



Chlorine, - 

 Organic matter, 



