Analyses of Ashes of Plants. 
673 
any such principle, and that in other plants, such as the turnip, 
great difficulties would present themselves in every atiempt to 
connect the quantity of water with that of the ash ; but there seems a 
possibility that the greater part of the ash nnay exist in a state of 
solution in the grain and straw of the cereals — that it may act in 
some way as saline solutions do in general, to prevent or retard 
the decomposition of the vegetable matter; the ash may also be 
the means of retaining in the plant that amount of moisture which 
it needs ; for, as is well known, all deliquescent salts will render 
the substances in which they exist constantly moist, and phosphate 
of potash, which is a very considerable ingredient of the ash of the 
cereals, falls very little short of chloride of calcium, in the avidity 
with which it absorbs moisture from the air. But we forbear 
further speculation on these points at present, trusting that our 
subsequent investigations may throw much light upon the 
subject. 
The Ash of Straw and Chaff. — It will be seen that we have only 
in one instance analyzed the ash of straw and chaff separately 
(Spec. 46). In the other instances the straw was burnt with the 
quantity- of chaff belonging to it — very perfect and unbroken 
specimens of average length being selected. It will be manifest 
that, however desirable a separate analysis in each case might be, 
the time involved by it will not admit of such a proceeding. The 
agricultural distribution of the crop is divided into grain, and straw, 
and chaff, the ash of the former being entirely removed, that of 
the latter being returned to the soil from the manure heap. 
The following table exhibits the analyses of nine specimens of 
wheat straw, with the proportion of chafi" belonging to it. 
Table X. — Analysis of the Ash of Wheat Straiv, and Chaff. 
Spec. 
1. Acid. 
'3 
< 
S 
< 
Iron. 
Sodium. 1 
O 
Straw. 1 
o 
Variety. 
Soil. J 
p. 
a 
i< 
o 
o 
d 
Silici 
Pho: 
a. 
Carl 
Limi 
s 
o 
V 
Oi 
1 
-T3 
■Jl 
O 
o 
Ash 
Ash 
26 
Creeping . 
Clay and sand . 73 • 57 
5*51 
2-14 
5-91 
1'25 
0-07 
10-51 
1 03 
15-40 
4-22 
27 
Ditto 
Ditto . . 69 66 
6 62 
3-95 
7M6 
1'56 
0*28 
10 31 
0-13 
13 04 4-60 
28 
Ditto 
Calcareous rubble 69 -94 
8-54 
2-33 
4-94 
I -43 
0-06 
12'48 
0-25 
16-54 4-30 
•JO 
Hopeton . 
.Sand . . . 69'36 
.'j-24 
4'45 
6 -96 
1-45 
0-73 
11-79 
U-77'4-07 
42 
Ditto 
Siliceous sand . 67 • 1 0 
7-05 5-59 
:: 
4-44 
3-27 
1 54 
10-03 
o'85 
10-36 4-16 
44 
f Red-Straw 
t White . 
(Siliceous sandy 11 _„ 
1 loam. . '\\'0-50 
5-77 3'31 
3 53 
3-29 
0'14 
12 76 
a C8 
13-78 4 68 
45 
Ditto 
C.ilcareous brash. '71'-;!i 
3-37 
2-28 
7 •.■54 
3-53 
l-U 
9-47 
1-39 
7-o; 
2-74 
46 
Ditto 
Clay loam . . I68-9S 
i-2\ 2-ai 
3-63 
1-76 
0-43 
15-50 
2-29 
9-10 4' 20 
48 
Ditto 
( Calcareous clay, 1 L^.,, 
1 dolomitic . / 13 
1 
6'8S 
3-62 
0-54 
11-76 
9-63 
4-95 
The variation in the composition of the mixed ash of the several 
specimens in the table is not very great. Sulphuric acid and 
lime are present in considerable quantity in the straw, but the 
