1847.] Distribution of Inorganic Matter in Vegetables. 185 



12. The inquiries which I have recently instituted respecting 

 the inorganic constituents of forest and fruit trees, have been di- 

 rected to the determination of the following points: 



1. The percentage of water which is lost by a temperature of 

 212° Fahr. 



2. The percentage of ash in the different parts of the tree. 



3. The actual percent of water in the wood. 



4. The determination of the elements of the ash and its gene- 

 ral distribution in the tree. 



It will be observed that the field of labor which these investi- 

 gations required, or will require, when extended, as it is proposed, 

 to the most important forest and fruit trees in New-York, is im- 

 mensely large; involving a multiplicity of details, and exceeding 

 great care, in order that they should terminate in valuable results. 

 In their execution, thus far, I have been assisted by Mr. J. Salis- 

 bury and E. Chandler Ball, esq. ; both of whom have entered with 

 great spirit and perseverance in the work. Indeed, without their 

 labors, my own would present but a meagre result. Single hand- 

 ed investigations make slow accumulations, when confined to ana- 

 lytical details. The drying of the wood, and the proper prepa- 

 ration of the ash, and the determination of percentages, though 

 among the least of the labors, yet consume considerable time. 



13. Preparation of the Ash. 



It is a matter of considerable importance to make and prepare 

 the ash for analysis. The mode I adopted for determining the 

 percentage of ash, was to burn the wood in a hot porcelain evapo- 

 rating dish. By a simple arrangement, the wood is burned at a 

 low temperature, and the fusion of the potash is thereby prevented, 

 and but little coal is left unconsumed. 



The ash which is designed for analysis, is prepared by burning 

 in a clean furnace with an iron grate, which never acquires suffi- 

 cient temperature to form an oxide of iron upon the bars. This 

 mode, though it might be objected to, is still a safe one; and if 

 the operation is properly conducted, the ash procured is in a state 

 as free from foreign substances as possible. 



14. Mode of Analysis. 



The analysis of the ash has been conducted in the main in a mode 

 W'hich is usually followed, M'here the substance is soluble in hydro- 

 chloric acid. The ammonia precipitate, which contains the phos- 

 phates of iron, lime, magnesia, and alumina, if present, is ignited 

 and weighed. Subsequently this is re-dissolved in hydrochloric 

 acid, and filtered, if silica is present. Ammonia is again employ- 

 ed for precipitating the phosphates; acetic acid is then added in 



