Analyses of Ashes of Plants. 207 



Very little 'pliosplioric acid in the straw of beans or peas. 

 The entire 'plant of peas requires most lime^ of beans most 

 potash. 



Beans should flourish on a stiff day — peas on a calcareous 

 loam. 



Beans may with advantage precede or follow wheat, by liberat- 

 ing silica and appropriating potash. 



Bones and sulphuric acid should not be used alone for turnips 

 on light land. 



Pearl-ash (or imod ashes) and Epsom salts might be tried with 

 hones and acid. 



Safest plan perhaps to use artificial manures in conjunction with 

 farm-yard manure for root crops. 



It has been represented to us^ that it would be satisfactory to scien- 

 tific men perusing the Journal, to know the methods of analysis 

 employed; they are therefore here published as shortly as pos- 

 sible.* 



Estimatio7i of the water. — The grain of wheat, &c., entire — turnip 

 bulbs and leaves, &c. cut up into small pieces, dried at about 150° or 

 160° Fahrenheit for a fortnight; weighed, dried again for another week 

 or fortnight ; drying completed in water bath (at 212°) till they ceased 

 to lose weight. 



Per centage of Ash. — 100 or 200 grs. of wheat, barley, &c., from 

 60 to 80 grs. of dry turnip, &c., burnt in a small platinum dish (watch- 

 glass shape) over air-flame of gas — burning continued with wheat, &c., 

 till ash quite white. With ashes that fuse but yet contain little silica 

 burning stopped before fusion begins ; ash weighed treated with dilute 

 hydrochloric acid ; charcoal (seldom 1-lOth of a grain) collected, washed, 

 weighed, and deducted. In all specimens burnt for analysis, the esti- 

 mation checked by the larger quantity. 



Burning of the Ash for ancdysis. — 4000 to 6000 grs. wheat, barley, 

 carefully cleansed, &c., 1000 to 2000 grs. dry turnip, &c., burnt in large 

 platinum dish over a Black's furnace, supported in the opening at the 

 top by a solid iron ring; temperature never exceeding dull redness; per- 

 fect access of air; the dish being 8 or 9 inches broad, and li inch deep 

 only ; ash stirred when necessary with thick platinum wire ; burning dis- 

 continued so soon as the charcoal ceased to glow at a dull red heat ; ash 

 examined in case of any trace of foreign matter having been overlooked, 

 powdered, dried, and weighed. 



Analysis of the ash. — 15 to 25 grains of ash heated with water and 

 small quantity of nitric acid, filtered, precipitated by nitrate of silver 



* The above description will be of no value to any one not perfectly 

 conversant with such subjects. We have been unwilhng to cumber the 

 pages of the Journal with such matter, but it is a requirement of scientific 

 investigation which is never dispensed with. Want of time alone pre- 

 vented its introduction in the fi.rst report. 



