SECTION IV. 



ASH m PLANTS. 



The mineral elements that make up the ash are not present in 

 the free state but in various combinations. A knowledge of the 

 ash of plants and the combinations that make it up should be 

 understood by the feeder. 



Acids and Bases. — The acids and bases of the mineral ele- 

 ments of ash are : 



Acids 

 Sulphuric (hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen) H^SO^ 

 Hydrochloric (hydrogen and chlorine) HCl 

 Phosphoric (hydrogen, phosphorus and oxygen) HgPjOg 

 Carbonic (carbon and oxygen) COj 

 Silicic (silicon and oxygen) SiOa 



Bases 

 Lime (calcium and oxygen) CaO 

 Soda (sodium and oxygen) Na^O 

 Potash (potassium and oxygen) KjO 

 Magnesia f magnesium and oxygen) MgO 

 Iron oxide (iron and oxygen) Fe^Os 



The mineral elements do not exist as acids and bases in the 

 ash, because in the burning of plant substances there is a re- 

 arrangement of the mineral elements and salts are formed. 



Salts. — The elements exist in the ash of plants as salts. That 



is the acids and bases as united and form: 



Phosphates ] f Calcium 



Sulphates i c ! Magnesium 



Chlorides and [ ] Sodium 



Carbonates J [ Potassium 



We are all familiar with some of these salts. A few of the 



combinations are: 



Chloride of sodium (common salt) 



Carbonate of lime (limestone) 



Chloride of potash (muriate of potash) 



Carbonate of soda (baking powder) 



Sulphate of soda (Glauber's salts) 



Sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts) 



Sulphate of calcium (gypsum) 



Sulphate of potash (common sulphate of potash of commerce) 



