268 
ACTION OF SOME Or THE ALKALINE SALTS 
It is naturally impossible, by a few analyses of ashes of 
plants, to ascertain a general law ; for the proportion of 
fixed constituent parts of individual organs differs in various 
genera of plants. The cereals, for instance, contain in their 
fruit no constituent parts which are soluble in water, where- 
as their straw contains them in no inconsiderable quan- 
tities. 
It is to be regretted that the analyses of ashes, if con- 
scientiously executed, require much time ; to which circum- 
stance it may perhaps be ascribed that till now no sufficient 
number of analyses has been performed. But the first im- 
pulse having been given by Prof. Liebig, in time this want 
will certainly be supplied. 
Chemist, from Jinn, der Chem. und Pharm* 
ART. L VIII.— ACTION OF SOME OF THE ALKALINE SALTS 
UPON THE SULPHATE OF LEAD. 
By J. Lawrence Smith. 
It has been for some time known that certain neutral 
salts possess the property of dissolving to some extent the 
sulphate of lead, which property belongs neither to the 
acids or bases constituting these salts. By referring to 
Berzelius' Chemistry, it will be found that the acetate and 
nitrate of ammonia are among the number. " 1 part of the 
sulphate was dissolved in 47 parts of a solution of the ace- 
tate, of sp. gr. 1.036 ; and in 172 parts of a solution of the 
nitrate, of sp. gr. 1.144." In the Annalen der Chem. und 
Phar., vol. xxxiv., 235, will be found the following state- 
ment under the head of Beactionem : — " Sulphate of lead 
is easily dissolved, and in large quantity, by a solution of 
