INSOLUBLE POTASH IN PLANTS 535 



ash, and that mostly as a silicate. It is known as "Schlempekoh- 

 lenschlam." 



Another product is made by the evaporation and drying of the 

 product, so as to avoid calcination and preserve the nitrogenous 

 constituents intact. Such preparations are called "Chilinit," a 

 a name which smacks of fraud, since the nitrogen therein is not in 

 the form of saltpeter, but is found chiefly as amids and other or- 

 ganic combinations. 



454. Residue of Wineries. The pomace of grapes after being 

 pressed or fermented for wine production contains considerable 

 quantities of potash as crude argol or acid potassium and lime 

 tartrate. This material can be applied directly to the soil or first 

 burned, when its potash will be secured in the form of carbonate. 



The use of the winery refuse for fertilizing purposes has not 

 assumed any commercial importance in this country. 



455. Insoluble Potash in Plants. Berthelot has called attention 

 to the existence of plant tissues of insoluble alkaline compounds. 26 

 Since, in the estimation of potash, we often extract the potash 

 without incineration, it is evident that any insoluble material of 

 this kind, likewise, of lime, or other alkaline bodies, will not be in- 

 cluded in the determination. In a sample of hay dried at 110 

 it was found, when finely ground and extracted with water, that 

 27.8 per cent, of the potash was soluble and 72.2 per cent, insolu- 

 ble. On incineration the soluble matter was found to contain 81.1 

 per cent, of organic matter and 18.9 per cent, of ash. The or- 

 ganic matter contained: 



Per cent. 



Carbon 49-4 



Hydrogen 6.65 



Nitrogen 2.20 



Oxygen and undetermined 4 1 -7 1 



The ash contained: 



Potash (K 2 O) 5-95 



Lime (CaO) 2.56 



Silica (SiO 2 ) 5-38 



Alumina, phosphoric acid and analogues 0.76 



Total 14-65 



Carbonic acid, undetermined compounds and loss 8.65 



Total ; 23.3 of ash 



or mineral matter to 100 parts of organic matter. 

 Comptes rendus, 1905, 141 : 793. 



