COTTON SEED. 
149 
which yield alkaline salts soluble in acids. Of the 16.5 
grains of ashes, it is found that 9.13 grains consist of phos- 
phate of lime. On separating the various salts, and re- 
ducing them to their ratios, for one hundred grains of the 
oil-cake the result is found to be as follows : 
Alkaline salts, soluble in water 0.13 
Pbosphate of lime ^-04 
Potash 0.46 
Soda 0.53 
Phosphoric acid, with traces of sulphuric acid and 
chlorine.... 0.81 
Silica, and oxides of iron and maaganese 0.18 
5.15 
Loss 0.85 
5.50 
The foregoiag analyses of cotton seed justify and ex- 
plain the use made of them by the Southern planters, in 
preparing the soil with the rotted seeds as a special manure 
for Indian corn, which draws so largely on the soil for 
phosphates. It wiU also be seen that, since the cotton- 
seed oil-cake contains nearly eight per cent, of nitrogen, 
and nearly six per cent, of hydrogen, the elements of am- 
monia are present in sufficient quantities to form about ten 
per cent, of ammonia, a powerful stimulant to vegetation, 
and a solvent and carrier of humus into their circulation. 
The carbon is more than sufficient to take up all the 
oxygen in the formation of carbonic acid, another active 
fertilize^; and the excess of carbonaceous matter will re- 
main and form humus, or vegetable mould, which the alka- 
lies, soda, potash, and ammonia will, in part, dissolve and 
carry into the circulation of plants, which possess the 
power of approximating and converting it into their tis- 
