On the Composition of Sorghum Saccharatum. 



was necessary to unroll all the leaves, and to dry them with fine 

 blotting paper, before making the water-determination. 



Deprived in this way of all accidental water, 1000 grains of 

 the finely cut plant left, on drying in the water-bath, 148 grains 

 of dry matter. The plants consequently contained 85*20 per 

 cent, of water. 



In a second determination, 85*15 per cent, of water was found. 



The mean of the two water determinations is 85*17. 



Ash. 18'61 grains of perfectly dry substance gave 1*41 grains 

 of ash, or 100 grains contained 7*57 grains of ash. In the 

 natural state the plants thus contained 1/12 per cent, of ash. 



Protein Compounds. Burned with soda-lime, the dried sub- 

 stance was found to contain 2*75 per cent, of nitrogen, which is 

 equal to 17'18 per cent, of protein compounds. In a second 

 nitrogen combustion, 2*78 per cent, of nitrogen was obtained, 

 which is equal to 17*37 per cent, of protein compounds. The 

 mean of these two nitrogen determinations is 2'76 per cent., 

 equal to 17"27 per cent, of protein compounds. In the natural 

 state sorghum contained, according to the first determination, 

 *407 per cent, of nitrogen, equal to 2*544 per cent, of protein 

 compounds ; and *412 per cent, of nitrogen, equal to 2*575 per 

 cent, of protein compounds, according to the second deter- 

 mination. 



According to these determinations, the general composition 

 of the sorghum on the 23rd of August may be represented as 

 follows : 



And that of sorghum, dried at 212 F. : 



