94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [May, 1886. 



plex constitution and curious properties which the plant possessed. The name 

 of one of the chemists was Vanquelin, the name of the other I do not remem- 

 ber. The following is the analysis made by these chemists : 



1. Ammonia, 



2. Carbonate of Ammonia, 



3. Phosphate of Magnesia, 



4. Phosphate of Lime, 



5. Carbon, 



6. Vegetable Albumen, 



7. Extractive matter, 



8. Osmozome, 



9. Chlorophyl, 



10. Oil of Chenopodium. 



In our analysis we detected all the substances found by the other chemists, 

 with the exception of Osmozome. This plant is soon decomposed, with evolu- 

 tion of a large quantity of Ammonia, Sulphide of Ammonia, Sulphuretted 

 Hydrogen, Sulphide of Ammonium and Carbonic Acid gas. These are the 

 gasses evolved by all animal matter in a state of decomposition. The odor of 

 this plant when in its decomposed state is very offensive. It appears that 

 this plant, containing so large a quantity of Ammonia and Nitrogen, and grow- 

 ing, almost everywhere, luxuriantly on the South Atlantic sea coast, might be 

 advantageously used as a fertilizer, since so much strong Ammonia can be 

 obtained by distilling th^e leaves over Hydrate of Lime, a simple and inexpen- 

 sive process. 



Members Elected. 

 Mr. D. Ravenel, Gen. D. Kemper. 



JUNE 11th, 1885. 



The President in the Chair. 



Oontributious to the Lihrary. 



American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia : Transactions,j 

 Vol. XXn, part 2, Apl., 1885. 



Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, Emden : Jahresberichte, 1884. 



