CHEMISTRY OF THE CROP. 341 



are of a pale blue or yellowish tint, and appear in August 

 and September. 1 



The chemistry of hemp does not appear to have received 

 much attention, either on the Continent, where, however, 

 it forms an important cultivation, or at home. We are 

 indebted to Dr. Anderson 2 for the only reliable analysis 

 of the organic composition of the seed we have, the old 

 one by Bucholz generally quoted having been made at a 

 period when the methods of conducting such analyses 

 were extremely imperfect. The sample examined by Dr. 

 Anderson was of foreign growth, and of the ordinary 

 market quality. Its composition was as follows : 



Albuminous (nitrogen) compounds, 22'60 



Oil, 31-84 



Fibre, mucilage, &c., 32'72 



Ash (mineral matter), 6'37 



Water, 6'47 



100-00 



The ash contained 



Phosphates (earthy) 2'47 



Phosphoric acid combined with alkalies, '76 



If these constituents be compared with those of linseed 

 (see page 308), it will be seen that no very material 

 difference exists between them ; at all events, not more 

 than would be compensated by a small reduction in the 

 market price. The oil of the hemp-seed, however, is of a 

 sweeter and far more palatable nature than that of the 

 linseed, which would give to it a superiority for feeding 

 purposes where the seeds were used respectively in their 



1 According to the observations of Vaucher, of Geneva, the seeds of 0. 

 ramosa will lie many years inerb in the soil, unless they come in contact with 

 the roots of hemp, the plant upon which that species grows parasitically, when 

 they immediately sprout and commence their work. The manner in which 

 the seeds of Orobanche attach themselves to the plants on which they feed has 

 been observed by Schlauter. This writer states that they only seize seedlings, 

 and are unable to attack roots of a stronger growth. Vegetable Kingdom^ 

 p. 610. 



2 High. Sac. Transactions, 1855, p. 123. 



VOL. II. 55 



