ANALYSES OF BUCKWHEAT. 
273 
4. Composition of the ash of Broom corn seed. 
Carbonic acid.not determined. 
Silicic acid - 41 • 975 
Sulphuric acid.not determined. 
Phosphoric acid 28’750 
Phosphate of peroxide of iron - 0-525 
Lime - 0-845 
Magnesia ....... 3-010 
Potash ........ 3-920 
Soda -.7-247 
Chlorine ....... 0 - 245 
Organic acids ...... 4-200 
90-727 S. 
PROPORTIONS. 
Water - .12*22 
Dry matter - - - - - - - 87-78 
Ash - - - - - - - - 3-00 
Percentage of ash calculated on the dry matter, 3-417 S. 
VIII. BUCKWHEAT. 
In its classification as a plant, buckwheat belongs to a family far removed from the 
cereals ; but in the composition and properties of its seed, it approximates to them closely, 
and hence it is placed here. A few analyses only have been made of it. The two follow¬ 
ing will show the composition of the ash of the seed. They also show, in the amount of 
earthy phosphates and phosphoric acid, a remarkable similarity to the grains of the cereals. 
Its specific gravity is l - 081: 
Silica - • - - - - - - 7'06 
Earthy phosphates.- 57-60 
Lime - - - - - - - - 0-14 
Magnesia - - - - - - - 2-66 
Potash.23-33 
Soda.2-04 
Sulphuric acid - - - - - - 7-30 
Chlorine - 0-20 
100-23 
The amount of silica may have been increased from want of attention to the foreign mat¬ 
ter upon the seed : its well known grittiness, when not removed by a mill, renders the 
supposition probable. 
[Agricultural Report — Vol. n.] 35 
