528 
Fourth  Report  on  the  Analysis 
In  3020  lbs. 
of 
Steeped  Flax. 
In  846  lbs  of 
Fibre,  and 
Fine  and 
Coarse  Tow. 
In  2174  lbs. 
of 
Wood. 
Silica 
4.67 
•44 
4-23 
Phosphoric  Acid  . . 
Ml 
•94 
•17 
Sulphuric  Acid  . 
•55 
•23 
•32 
Carbonic  Acid  ... 
5-29 
1-57 
3-72 
Lime 
13-77 
4-24 
9-53 
Magnesia  .... 
•76 
•38 
•38 
Peroxide  of  Iron 
1-66 
•31 
1-35 
Potash 
•50 
•17 
•33 
Soda 
•98 
•33 
•65 
Chloride  of  Potassium  . 
. . 
• . 
• . 
Chloride  of  Sodium 
• • 
•11 
• • 
Total  .... 
29-29 
8-72 
20-68 
Here  then  is  a further  reduction  of  the  mineral  matters  of  the 
flax-plant  considered  in  relation  to  its  industrial  applications. 
Of  the  comparatively  small  proportion  of  ash  remaining-  in  the 
steeped  straw  little  more  than  one-fourth  belongs  to  the  fibre,  the 
other  three-fourths  being  found  in  the  wood.  The  wood,  which 
is  a large  product  of  flax  growing,  is  used  for  litter  and  other 
purposes  to  which  straw  is  applicable,  and  its  mineral  matters 
find  their  way  in  due  course  back  to  the  fields.  We  shall  sum  up 
the  foregoing  calculations  in  a few  words. 
A crop  of  fine  flax,  consisting  of  40  cwt.  of  stalks,  20  bushels 
of  seed,  and  9 cwt.  of  the  seed-capsules  and  leaves,  contains 
244 ‘4  lbs.  of  mineral  matters.  Of  these  there  is  found 
lbs.  lbs. 
In  the  seed 33 '5 33  "50 
In  the  seed  capsules  ....  64-4  64-40 
(In  the  steep  water  1 1 7 ■ 03 
In  the  wood  . . 20-68 
( In  the  fibre  and  tow  8-72 
Of  this  118’ 58  lbs.  is  actually  returned  to  the  soil  in  the  seed, 
the  husks,  and  the  wood;  another  quantity  of  117 '03  lbs.  may  he 
restored  in  the  steep  water,  and  only  8-72  lbs.  of  mineral  matter 
is  necessarily  lost  to  the  farm  in  the  fibre. 
Leaving  out  the  less  important  constituents,  the  following  will  be 
the  distribution  of  silica,  phosphoric  acid,  magnesia,  and  potash  : — 
Silica. 
Phosphoric 
Acid. 
Magnesia. 
Potash. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
In  the  Seed  .... 
•50 
12-90 
4-40 
11-40 
In  the  Seed  Capsule  . 
10-00 
1-70 
1-60 
1G-60 
In  the  Steep-water  . . 
6*93 
9-93 
5-39 
31-05 
In  the  Wood 
4-23 
•17 
•38 
•33 
In  the  Fibre  and  Tow  . 
•44 
•94 
•38 
•17 
Total  .... 
22-10 
25-64 
12-15 
59-55 
