t 418 ] 



composition of the leaves varies very much in both nitrogenous 

 and ash constituents according to the richness of the soil or 

 the amount of soluble plant food contained in it. The amount 

 of nitrates in leaves may be as much as 10 per cent, of the 

 dry matter. The ash of Indian tobaccos varies between 16 

 and 28 per cent., the greater part of which consists of carbo- 

 nate of lime. The soluble portion of the ash chiefly consists 

 of potash salts, the proportion varying from 5 to 35 per 

 cent. 



635. The following table gives the chemical composition 

 of a sample of Virginian tobacco. 



Moisture ... ... ... 9-44 % 



Nicotin ... ... ... 452 ,, 



Ammonia ... ... ... -53 



Nitric acid ... ... ... 83 



Malic acid ... ... ... 12 05 



Citric acid ... ... ... 281 ,, 



Oxalic acid ... ... ... 3-18 ,, 



Acetic acid ... ... ... -55 



Tannic acid ... ... ... r8o ,, 



Pectic acid ... ... ... 718 



Pectose bodies and gums ... ... 361 



Albuminoids ... ... ... ii'g2 ,, 



Total N ... ... 2753 



Amido N ... ... ... 616 



Other insolvent organic matters ... 687 ,, 



Cellulose ... ... ... 10*22 ,, 



Oils, fats and chlorophyll ... ... 5-90 , 



Resins ... 4-51 



Starch ... ... ... 64 



Total pure ash ... ... ... 13 64 ,, 



i.e , Silica and sand ... ... 3*78 ,, 



P 2 5 ... ... ... -38 



S0 3 ... ... -56 



Cl ... "74 



Cao ... ... ... 3-94 



