1847.] Association of Geologists and JYaturalists. 217 



Horse Chestnut; ^sculus hippocosianum. 



Tree in full bloom. 

 Root. Young Root. 



Potash, 



Soda, 



Chloride of sodium, 

 Sulphuric acid,. . . . 



Carbonic acid, 



Lime, 



Magnesia, 



Phosphates, 



Organic matter,. .. . 



Silica, 



Coal, 



30.71 











30.55 



0.13 



0.17 



0.01 



33.50 



3.20 



2.00 







The above tree stands in the rear of the Old State House, Al- 

 bany, and is abundantly supplied with the usual wash of such 

 places. 



Proportion of ash. 



Inferences, as deduced from 150 analyses. 



1. That the inorganic matter, as determined by the movements 

 of the sap, are in two principal directions: a. To the head of the 

 tree; b, to the outside of the tree; by which movements the pro- 

 portion of ash in the limbs and branches is greater than in the in- 

 side wood, and greater also in the outside than in the inside wood. 

 Exceptions occur as to the latter inference. 



2. In the bark of the trunk the inorganic matter acquires its 

 maximum proportion. 



3. The alkalies acquire their maximum proportion in the fruit 

 and its envelopes. 



4. The phosphates acquire their maximum proportions in the 

 outside wood, fruit and envelopes. 



5. Lime is found in its maximum proportion in the bark. 



6. The phosphates and alkalies are found in their minimum pro- 

 portion in the bark of the trunk. 



7. The final cause of the distribution of the inorganic matter of 

 vegetables, is the speedy restoration to the soil of the important 

 elements of which they are composed. They are first brought 



