ASHES. SULPHUR. LIME. PHOSPHORUS. 61 



water in the state of vapor, ammonia, carbonic acid and 

 some others. 



Those that are left in the Ashes arc the incombustible 

 elements, or the mineral elements. In the ashes of every 

 plant is found a very considerable number of mineral 

 constituents. But the ashes of plants of particular families 

 are often remarkable for the amount of particular elements 

 contained in them. 



213. The ashes of radishes, mustard, and other plants 

 of the Cruciferous Family, particularly of the seeds, 

 contain Sulphur, or brimstone, in the state of sulphuric 

 acid, combined usually with some other substance. 



214. In the ashes of pod-bearing or leguminous plants, 

 such as peas and beans, and other plants of the Pulse 

 Family, particularly clover, sulphuric acid in composition 

 with lime, or Sulphate of Lime, is found. 



Lime is a compound of a metal called calcium, with 

 oxygen ; so that sulphate of lime is made up of sulphur, 

 oxygen and calcium. It is commonly .called gypsum, or 

 plaster of Paris. 



215. In the ashes of kernels of wheat or other grain, 

 as well as of many other kinds of seed, is found a large 

 quantity of a salt called phosphate of lime. This is a 

 compound of lime and phosphoric acid, which is itself 

 composed of oxygen and a very curious substance called 



Phosphorus. This is a soft, translucent, poisonous solid, 

 looking like wax, turning yellowish when exposed to light, 

 of a peculiar smell, and called phosphorus, (light bearer,) 

 from shining in the dark. It has so violent a tendency 

 to combine with the oxygen of the air, and burn, that it 

 must be kept under water. A very little of it mixed with 

 other substances and applied to the end of a bit of wood, 

 gives that readiness to take fire which belongs to phos- 



