RECAPITULATION. 87 



The twopieceiling analyses were of the ash as formed from well dried hay, quite ripe, 

 which grew in Berhlehem, the soil of which is often sandy upon a hasis of Albany clay. 

 It is less rich than the soil of the State House lot ; hence the large amount of phosphates 

 and potash in the ash of the young clover. 



XVIII. SWEET-SCENTED CLOVER, var. alba {Mdlilotus offidualis). 



Introduced and cultivated in gardens, but grows spontaneously in rich ground about Albany. 



Composition of the upper part of the plant. 



Per centum. 



Silica 5-600 



Phosphates 33-050 



Carbonate of lime 28-000 



Magnesia 6-040 



Potash 20-305 



Soda 2-625 



Sulphuric acid 4-125 



Chlorinn ....... 1-355 



101 - 100 

 One hundred grains of the sun-dried plant lost in the water hath 6-22 grains, and gave 

 ash 2-58. 



RECAPITULATION AND REMARKS. 



1. In view of the effects of the hay crop on soils, it is evident that there are three suh- 



stances which are retnoved in large quantities, viz : silica in a soluble condition ; 

 phosphoric acid in combination with iron, lime and magnesia ; and potash in combi- 

 nation with silicic acid. Lime is not found in quantities so large as potash. It is to 

 be noted, however, that grasses differ in composition. In the red-top, a favorite 

 grass, there is ten per centum of carbonate of lime. In the Triticum repens, which 

 grows luxuriously in the yard of the Old State House, where there is no deficiency of 

 lime in the soil, the lime amounts to only 0-96 per centum, and the potash to 24. 

 Soda occasionally forms a large percentage ; and from the facts, it would seem 

 probable that the plants take up soda or potash indifferently. 



2. Of the grasses, timothy and red-top seem to have a composition well adapted to the 



wants of animals which feed upon hay. The proportion of silica in timothy is less 

 than 45 per centum ; and the phosphates amount to 16 or nearly 17 per centum. 

 The carbonate of lime is 02 per centum ; while the potash amounts to 30 per centum, 

 or i of the whole ash. 



3. It will be observed that the amount of water in the stem and leaf differ, being less in 



the leaf and head than in the stem ; consequently the amount of nutriment is pro- 



