184 



But, since it is obvious, that the carbonic acid in the above- 

 mentioned salts must have been derived during the incinera- 

 tion of the cotton, the following view will more certainly 

 express the important mineral ingredients abstracted by the 

 cotton from the soil, for every 100 parts of its ash : 



Potassa (with possible traces of Soda), . 



Lime, ...... 



Magnesia, ...... 



Phosphoric Acid, , 



Sulphuric Acid, ...... 



64-92 



For every 10,000 Ibs. of cotton wool, then, about sixty Ibs. 

 of the above-mentioned ingredients are subtracted from the 

 soil, in the proportion indicated by the numbers appended, 

 i. e., (omitting fractions:) 



Potassa, . . . . . .31 Ibs. 



Lime, . . . . . 17 " 



Magnesia, . . . . . . 3 " 



Phosphoric Acid, . . . . 12 " 



Sulphuric Acid, . . . . . 1 " 



Several queries were submitted to me, along with the sample 

 to be analyzed, relative to the effect of soils on cotton. I re- 

 gret to state that the almost total ignorance in which we are 

 still left, respecting the composition of the varieties of this 

 fibre, and the soils producing them, prevents me from hazard 

 ing any explanations on the subject. This is the first destruc- 

 tive analysis ever made (at least so far as my knowledge ex- 

 tends) of the cotton wool. Nor am I acquainted with the 

 properties of the soil which afforded it. Prior to any deduc- 

 tions, it is clear we must know the composition of each variety 



