132 
Mangold- Wurzel. 
It was conceived that the analysis of this root might be of 
some interest, and I therefore submitted it to a careful and 
detailed analysis. The following is the general analysis of this 
root : — 
In natural 
Calculated dry. 
state. 
Dried at 212° Fall. 
Water 
, 92-25 
Soluble organic matter 
.. 3-27 
42-32 
Soluble mineral matter 
1-23 
15-87 
Insoluble organic matter 
3-12 
40-16 
Insoluble mineral matter ., 
-13 
1-G5 
100-00 
100-00 
The more minute examination of the same root yielded the sub- 
joined analytical results : — 
Detailed Composition. 
Water 
*Solub]e protein compounds.. 
Sugar, gum, and pectin 
Soluble inorganic salts 
tinsoluble protein compounds 
Woody fibre (cellulose) 
Insoluble mineral matter . . 
In natural \ 
8tate. 
•97 
4-08 
1-23 
•16 
1-18 
-13 
Calculated dry. 
Dried at 212'> Fah. 
12-51 
52-67 
15-87 
2-06 
15-22 
1^d7 
100-00 
100-00 
.: -155 
•025 
2-00 
•32 
.. .. 2-32 
The juice of this root had a specific gravity of 1-022. The 
preceding analytical results suggest the following remarks : — 
1. It will be noticed that the proportion of water in this root 
is very much larger than in roots of fair average quality. Indeed 
there is fully as much water in this root as in common white 
turnips. In good mangolds the proportion of water amounts to 
88 or 89 per cent., and sometimes is even lower tlian 88 per cent. 
2. The proportion of mineral matter or ash in this root like- 
wise is very large, it being much more considerable than in good 
mangolds. 
3. It will be noticed that nearly the whole of the mineral 
matter consists of soluble salts. As the root tasted rather saltish, 
I thouffht it worth while to determine the amount of common salt 
in it, and was surprised to find no less than -04 of a grain of com- 
mon salt in the root in its natural state, or 8'25 grains in the dried 
root. More than half of the soluble mineral matter found in this 
root therefore consisted of salt. In the growth of the mangolds, 
of which the root examined by me was a specimen, much salt was 
evidently employed as a manure. 
