Beans and Peas, Sfc. 



489 



in other words, 100 parts of cake contain less than one part of 

 sand, whilst even specimens 25, which has an outside per-centage 

 of ash, two-fifths of which consist of sand, will only contain 

 grains of sand in every 100 grains of cake. So far, then, as 

 the 33 analyses here recorded of specimens taken indiscriminately 

 may enable us to judge, we are justified in stating that sand is 

 not employed, or not often employed, to adulterate linseed-cake. 

 Other remarks occur to us in examining the last table, but they 

 will be better deferred. 



Since, then, mineral adulteration is not practised, Is any vege- 

 table substance ever mixed with the cake, having the effect of 

 altering the per-centage of nitrogen to the extent we have seen ? 

 This question rightly belongs to the microscopical observer. It 

 is possible that such may be the case ; but the low per-centage of 

 ash, together with the general absence of carbonates in it, forbids 

 the notion that any large proportion of woody matters, such as 

 sawdust, &c, should be used to adulterate the cake. And, 

 independently of this negative evidence, it can be shown that the 

 composition of the seed sufficiently accounts for all differences in 

 that of the cake. To this point I therefore at once pass. 



Linseed. 



The following analyses of linseed will serve to show to what 

 variations the seed is liable, although their number is insuffi- 

 cient to afford very satisfactory averages of its composition. 



Circumstances did not allow of the extension of this part of 

 the inquiry; but as the analyses are sufficient for the present 

 purpose, I regret it the less that another opportunity of publish- 

 ing a larger number of these results will no doubt occur, when 

 the question can be entertained at greater length. 



The first specimens to be described are foreign linseeds : they 

 were obtained from an intelligent merchant and manufacturer, 

 who is practically conversant with the whole subject. 



No. 1 is average Riga, weighing 52^ lbs. to the bushel, and should 

 produce from 90 to 95 lbs. of oil per quarter (22 per cent.). 



No. 2, good Memel, 56 lbs. per bushel, should produce 100 to 105 lbs. 

 of oil per quarter (22'8 per cent.). 



No. 3, Black Sea, 53J lbs. per bushel, should produce about 112 lbs. of 

 oil per quarter (26*3 per cent.). 



All of these specimens were- mixed with other seeds : these 

 were carefully picked out, and their proportion ascertained. 



No. 1, Riga, contained of other seeds (principally cabbage, turnip, and 



rape) 9*30 per cent. 

 No. 2, Memel, 10*34 per cent. 

 No. 3, Black Sea, 7*56 per cent. 



We do not possess any analyses of these seeds (with the ex- 



