The Ash Contents 



41 



ASH 



The ash or mineral part of plants or animals occu- 

 pies a minor place in the discussions which pertain to 

 the principles and problems of animal nutrition. Much 

 is said and written about the carbon compounds of 

 living organisms, but the compounds of the mineral 

 world, in their relation to foods and to the processes of 

 growth, are generally passed by with brief comment, 

 much less than would be profitable. It is certainly 

 desirable to gain a clear understanding of the combi- 

 nations, distribution and functions of these bodies. 

 Their importance as necessary constituents of foods 

 and animals is no less than pertains to the carbon 

 compounds, although their scientific and commercial 

 prominence as related to animal nutrition is much 



As previously stated, the mineral portion of a plant 

 or animal is measured by the ash or residue after com- 

 bustion, the principal ingredients of which are the 

 following: 



Acids 

 Hydrochloric acid....HCl. 



Sulfuric acid H 2 SO 4 



Phosphoric acid H 6 P 2 O 8 



Silicic acid SiO2 



Carbonic acid CO 2 



Bases 



Potash K 2 O 



Soda Na 2 O 



Lime .CaO 



Magnesia MgO 



Iron oxid Fe 2 O 3 



Other mineral compounds are found in the various 

 forms of vegetable life, but those mentioned are all 

 that we need to discuss at length. 



The acids and bases do not exist in the ash as 



