G48 
Analyses of Ashes of Plants. 
Per ceiitage of water and ash : — 
Water. Asli. 
Grain . . . IS'OO . . I'Sfi 
Straw . . 3- 13 
Analysis of the ash of the grain : — 
Silica 9-22 
Phosphoric Acid .... 39*92 
Sulphuric Acid .... '17 
Carbonic Acid .... none. 
Lime 2-61 
Magnesia 12-81 
Peroxide of Iron . . . . 1'04 
Potash 33-83 
Soda -39 
Chloride of Sodium . . . none. 
Total 99-99 
Ash calculated 
on dry substance. 
1-60 
Having now separately described each specimen of wheat, &c. 
that has come under our notice, we will proceed to point out, as 
far as we have been able to discover them, the conclusions which 
are to be drawn from the data before us ; at the same time re- 
marking, that as our results will appear periodically in the 
Journal, no single section of the Report will be complete in itself, 
but must be taken only as a statement of present progress. First, 
then, of wheat : — 
The object of the present inquiry certainly does not require that 
we should go out of oui- way to obtain, respecting different crops, 
information which, however desirable it may otherwise be, is not 
immediately connected with the mineral composition of plants; 
but it will readily be allowed that in ascertaining the mineral 
wants and peculiarities of any particular crop, not only the quan- 
tity and composition of the ash must be determined, but the 
relative amount of the different parts of the plants whose ash is 
analyzed ; for we are desirous of discovering not only the cha- 
racter of those mineral ingredients which, for the growth of any 
crop, the soil must possess, but also the quantity of them which 
will be removed by a given amount of produce, and which must 
be retvu'ned to the land to restore its fertility. 
The relative proportion of grain, straw, and chaff, in every spe- 
cimen of wheat, is then an indispensable part of its history, and as 
such we have taken particular care in determining it. We have 
before mentioned in what manner this has been effected. 
But although foreign to the immediate purpose of this Report, 
we cannot allow the information so obtained concerning the several 
parts of wheat, irrespective of their mineral composition, to pass 
without notice. 
The produce in grain is of course dependent upon a great 
variety of circumstances, such as the general fertility of the land, 
