FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. 311 



and decay, or in consequence of their constituting the food of animals. The phosphates, 

 in this case, after performing their several offices in the system of animals, return to the 

 soil from whence they were originally derived. 



Another explanation, which may appear more plausible, is, that after a certain period 

 in the life of the oak, or any tree, a greater amount of inorganic matter may accumulate, 

 than at any previous period, in consequence of the spreading of the roots, and the sub- 

 sequent increased supply of this kind of njitriment from the original sources. In its full 

 maturity and strength, it takes up from the soil a greater amount of inorganic matter, 

 which it is then more capable of assimilating or converting into wood. 



The quantity, however, of inorganic matter may vary with the season. There may be 

 an accumulation of the phosphates and some other substances in autumn, which is designed 

 to go on slowly during the winter, by which a suflSciency of these elements is secured for 

 the immediate use of the tree in the spring when the leaves are about to be developed. 

 This undoubtedly would take place in the periphery mainly, or newer wood. From some 

 of the analyses which were made of winter cut wood, there appears a larger amount of 

 phosphates in the wood than in that which was cut after the leaves were fully formed. 



Whatever view we may adopt, it is evident that the analysis of the ash, taken without 

 reference to the organ or part, does not determine all we wish to know of the chemistry of 

 vegetation. The truth of this remark is sustained by all the analyses of the organs of 

 plants, as leaves, fruit and seed ; and I have no doubt it is equally true of the parts of the 

 trunk, the heart and alburnum, and the smaller branches. 



PROPORTIONS AND ANALYSES OF THE ASH OF FOREST AND FRUIT TREES. 



1. PROPORTIONS OF THE PROXIMATE ELEMENTS. 



I. SOFT WOODS, OR CONIFEROUS TREES. 



1. White Pine (Ash of seasoned bark) . 



Water : . . 6-10 



Dry bark 93-90 



Ash 0-22 



2. Yellow Pine (Pinus rigida) . 



8>p wood. Bark of twigi. 



Water  - - 37-00 4032 



Dry wood - - 63-00 60-68 



Ash - - - 0-15 0-64 



