On the Composition of Sorghum Saccharatum. 
379 
Deprived in this way of all accidental water, 1000 grains of 
the finely cut plant left, on drying in the water-bath, 148 grains 
of dry matter. The plants consequently contained 85 20 per 
cent, of water. 
In a second determination, 85' 15 per cent, of water was found. 
The mean of the two water determinations is 85'17. 
Ash. — 18'61 grains of perfectly dry substance gave 1*41 grains 
of ash, or 100 grains contained 7'57 grains of ash. In the 
natural state the plants tlius contained 112 per cent, of ash. 
Protein Compounds. — Burned with soda-lime, the dried sub- 
stance was found to contain 2"75 per cent, of nitrogen, which is 
equal to 1718 per cent, of protein compounds. In a second 
nitrogen combustion, 2"78 per cent, of nitrogen was obtained, 
which is equal to 17*37 per cent, of protein compounds. The 
mean of these two nitrogen determinations is 2 76 per cent., 
equal to 17'27 per cent, of protein compounds. In the natural 
state sorghum contained, according to the first determination, 
"407 per cent, of nitrogen, equal to 2'544 per cent, of protein 
compounds ; and "412 per cent, of nitrogen, equal to 2 575 per 
cent, of protein compounds, according to the second deter- 
mination. 
According to these determinations, the general composition 
of the sorghum on the 23rd of August may be represented as 
follows : — 
First 
Experiment. 
Second 
Experiment 
Average. 
Nitrogenized organic matters (so called ) 
Substances free from nitrogen, and fitted 1 
for the support of animal heat and the > 
85-200 
2-544 
11-136 
1-120 
85-150 
2-575 
11-155 
1-120 
85-175 
2-559 
11-146 
1-120 
100-000 
100-000 
100-000 
And that of sorghum, dried at 212° F. : — 
First 
Experiment. 
Second 
Experiment. 
Average. 
Non-nitrogenized matters (heat and fat- ) 
17-18 
75-25 
7-57 
17-37 
75-06 
7-57 
17-27 
75-16 
7-57 
100-00 
100-00 
100 00 
