ANALYSES OF BUCKWHEAT. 273 



4. Composition of the ash of Broom corn seed. 



Carbonic acid not determined. 



Silicic acid 41-975 



Sulphuric acid not determined. 



Phosphoric acid 28 "760 



Phosphate of peroxide of iron - 0-525 



Lime 0-845 



Magnesia 3-010 



Potash 3-920 



Soda 7-247 



Chlorine 0-245 



Organic acids ...... 4 "200 



90-727 S. 



PROPORTIONS. 



Water 12-22 



Dry matter - - - - - - - 87-78 



Ash 3-00 



Percentage of ash calculated on the dry matter, 3-417 S. 



VIII. BUCKWHEAT. 



In its classification as a plant, buckwheat belongs to a family far removed from the 

 cereals ; but in the composition and properties of its seed, it approximates to them closely, 

 and hence it is placed here. A few analyses only have been made of it. The two follow- 

 ing will show the composition of the ash of the seed. They also show, in the amount of 

 earthy phosphates and phosphoric acid, a remarkable similarity to the grains of the cereals. 

 Its specific gravity is 1 ■ 081 : 



Silica 7-06 



Earthy phosphates - - - - - - 57-60 



Lime 0-14 



Magnesia 2-66 



Potash 23-33 



Soda 2-04 



Sulphuric acid 7- 30 



Chlorine 0-20 



100-23 

 The amount of silica may have been increased from want of attention to the foreign mat- 

 ter upon the seed : its well known grittiness, when not removed by a mill, renders the 

 supposition probable. 



[Agricultural Report — Vol. n.] 35 



