CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF BLIGHTED SUGAR-CANES. 187 
Analysis of Cane-ash A 100 parts of dry ash contain— 
Silicic anhydride . . . 
3P82 
40-21 
32-09^ 
Sulphuric anhydride 
13-84 
18-91 
11-97 
Phosphoric „ 
7-07 
4-98 
7-72 
Chlorine 
2-78 
2-21 
2-20 
Ferric oxide 
1-09 
1-51 
1-86 
Calcium oxide 
7-06 
8-05 
7-41 
Magnesium oxide . . . 
6-72 
11-66 
6-85 
Potassium ,, 
26-92 
10-25 ... , 
1 
Sodium ,, 
0-45 
0-51 ... | 
j w° 
Carbonic anhydride 
Manganese oxide, etc. 
| 2-87 
2-28 .., 1 
100-62 
... 100-50 
100-50 
Deduct oxygen = to ] 
chlorine J 
| 0-62 
0-50 
0-50 
100-00 
... lOG'OO 
100-00 
By the above analysis a considerable deficiency in the 
amount of silicic anhydride (silica) is shown. The quantity 
of sodium oxide (or soda) also is remarkably small, and 
in one case, at all events, the phosphoric anhydride is 
below the average. The remaining constituents call for no 
particular comment. To afford data for comparison, the 
following analyses of healthy canes, and of normal pane ash 
are given. 
* The analysis of cane ash was carried out as follows ; — The cane, 
detached from the stole and stripped of leaves, was cut in small pieces, 
and incinerated in a porcelain dish over a large spirit lamp, a glass 
cylinder being supported above the dish to increase the draught. 
Complete calcination was subsequently effected in a platinum basin. 
A weighed quantity of the dry ash was then evaporated with sodium 
hydrate solution to decompose the silicates, treated with hydrochloric 
acid, and the estimation of the constituents proceeded with in the 
usual way. To determine the amount of alkalies, a further weighed 
quantity of ash was decomposed with hydrofluoric acid, according to 
the method of Berzelius. 
