146 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE FLAX PLANT. 
In addition to the composition of the seed, it is interesting to know that 
of the plant in general. ‘This we are now able to do in a very satisfactory 
manner, from Dr. Hodges’ ‘ Lecture on the Composition of the Flax Plant, 
and his paper read before the British Association, at Belfast, 23d September, 
1852. In this he communicated the history of a crop grown by himself for 
experimental purposes, and the progress of which he was able carefully to 
watch, from the sowing of the seed to its conversion into dressed Flax for 
the market. From this we obtain the following information : 
July 28th.—One plant of Flax, in seed, was taken—height above ground, 
31 inches, root, 53 inches long; length from surface of field to first branch, 
24 inches. About 5 inches of the lower end of stem had become yellow. 
The weight of entire plant was 71'1 grains. It was cut into three portions, 
which were separately incinerated, with the following results : 
“1. Root and lower part of stem weighed, dried, 6°60 grains, gave 0:094 
ash =1°424 per cent. 
“2. Capsules and branches, dry, weighed 9°47, gave ‘293 ash=3-094 per 
cent. 
“3. Middle portion, dry, weighed 5°55, gave ‘143 ash. Ash in dry stem, 
2°622 per cent. 
“ August 10th.—One plant taken—entire length with root, 37 inches; 
length from surface of soil to branches, 29 inches; stem of a light straw 
colour ; leaves withered on 10 inches of stem ; capsules 10 in number—seeds 
green ; weight of entire plant, 71 grains ; branches and capsules, 31-8 grains; 
water in plant, 45'335 grains; solid matter in do., 25-665 ; inorganic matter 
in do., 1006 grains. 
PER-CENTAGE COMPOSITION. 
Water . e - 63°852 dry. 
Organic matters : : . 34°732 96-08 
Ash - ‘ - . 1416 3-92 
Total . ‘ - 100°000 100:00 
“ August 25th.—The pulling of the crop was begun. A plant was taken 
and examined; weight of entire plant, 62°40 grains; weight of capsules, 
22°50. 
PER-CENTAGE COMPOSITION OF STEM. 
In Fresh Plant. Dry. 
Water : Z z 64 _ 
Organic matters . . : - 41:97 96°89 
Ash ‘ ‘ 7 . 1:39 3°11 
Total . : 3 - 100:00 100-00 
“Water in straw of plants as sent to the steeping works, after 14 days’ 
exposure to the air in stooks, 12-2 per cent; water in air-dried capsules, 
11-84 per cent; weight of the air-dried Flax, with bolls produced on the 
experimental field, 7°770 Ib. 
COMPOSITION OF THE CROP. 
_ “One hundred parts of the ash of the dry straw and capsules had respec- 
tively the following composition : 
