THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



determined, from the original weight of the 

 mixed chlorides, was regarded as giving the 

 quantity of chloride of sodium. From these 

 chlorides, the quantity of potassa and soda 

 may be readily deduced. 



The sulphuric acid was separated from solu- 

 tion with chloride of barium, and weighed as 

 sulphate of baryta. 



The chlorine was obtained from solutions in 

 very dilute nitric acid by precipitation with 

 nitrate of silver, and estimated from the result- 

 ing chloride of silver. 



The following table will present at once a 

 view of the results obtained by the above in- 

 vestigation, together with the results of analyses 

 made in other parts of the world. The figures 

 represent the proportions of the several sub- 

 stances obtained from 100 parts of the ashes. 

 The columns marked A and B give the results 

 comparatively of the analysis of the two spe- 

 cimens under consideration. The numbers in 

 the third and fourth columns are taken from 

 Johnston's and Norton's Agricultural Chemis- 

 tries respectively. 



100 grains of Ashes gave — 



A 

 50.91 

 3.49 

 9.60 

 3.30 



B 



49.75 

 .65 

 6.27 

 1.98 



Johnston's 

 55.70 

 1.90 

 13.60 

 4.20 



Norton's 

 51.50 



a trace. 

 7.10 

 2.70 



Of Soda 



Of Chlorine 





67.30 



58.65 



75.40 



61.30 



Inferences. — From the relative quantities of 

 water found in the above specimens, we may 

 infer, 



1. That the presence of inorganic fertilizers 

 has an influence on the character of the organic 

 part of the tubers. 



2. We may infer that the inorganic part of 

 the potato may vary considerably, according to 

 the excess or deficiency of certain elements, 

 not generally abundant in soils that have been 

 long under cultivation. 



3. "We may infer the advantage of applying 

 near to the root of the growing potato those 

 substances taken up by it in considerable quan- 

 tities. 



Remarks. — 1. The quantity of phosphoric 

 acid found in the ash of the potato, points to 

 hone earth and other phosphates, as a useful 

 addition to the mixture used in the foregoing 

 experiments, especially on soils which have been 

 much exhausted by the growth of wheat and 

 Indian corn. 



2. Wood-ashes afford an appreciable quan- 

 tity of soluble silica, and render soluble some 

 portions of that already existing in the soil. 

 This gives a healthful growth to the. stems, and 

 probably has the effect of preventing some dis- 

 eases. Diseases having their origin in the 



stocks of plants, often reach both the root, as 

 in the potato, and the grain, as in the rusting* 

 of wheat. 



3. It should be stated that the variety of 

 potato used aliove, was that known here as 

 the " long red." This variety contains a larger 

 per centum of water than is found in other va- 

 rieties generally, when maturely grown. Po- 

 tato tubers contain more water, too, in a dry 

 than in a wet season. This is owing to their 

 imperfect growth. This result, however, may 

 obtain in an extremely wet, as well as in an 

 extremely dry season ; the cause being in both 

 cases immature growth. 



« J. L. Campbell-. 



Lab. of Washington College, Va.. Oct. 18-54. 



LIVE AND NET WEIGHTS OF MUTTON. 



The following are the live and net weights 

 of the slaughtered mutton, exhibited at the 

 Maryland State Agricultural exhibition, in Oc- 

 tober, 1854. The slaughtered mutton were 

 weighed and exhibited with the head and feet 

 on, and 7 lbs. is deducted from the weight of 

 each one, for the head, and feet taken off just 

 below the knee, and is believed to be a full 

 deduction : 



Thomas Hughlett's Colswold 



Mr. Meade, of Virginia, Mixed Breed 



A. Castlcraan's CotsAvold and South Down . . 



M. T. Goldsborough's South Down 



William Reynold's Oxfordshire 



J. N. Coklsboroush's Cotswold . . . . 







Dead, with 





Rate per cent, ot 





Live 



head and 



Net, head 



net to live weight, 



Age. 



weight. 



feet. 



and feet oft". 



head and feet off. 



18 months 



182,',- 



120i 



II84 



62 per cent. 



3 years 



160 



108 



101 



63 per cent. 



4 years 





136 



129 





3 years 



183 



131 



124 



67 3 per cent. 



2 years 



195 



127^ 



120' 



61 1 per cent. 



2 years 



165 



124^ 



117% 



61 £ per cent. 



The above weights were accurately taken on the ground, by the exhibitor of Fairbanks 

 Scales. — American Farmer. 



