212 [ DECEMBER, 
favor of the publication of the following abstract of the same in the 
Proceedings : 
Analysis of the Cotton Plant and Seed. 
By the late Tuomas J. Summer, Esq., of South Carolina. Communicated by 
Dr. Cuartes M. WETHERILL. 
In a communication on the analysis of the ash of a cotton stalk by Mr. Judd, 
in the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 
p- 219, surprise is expressed at the absence of published analyses of the 
cotton plant, with the exception of one of the wood and another of the seed, 
by Prof. Shepard. I owe it to the memory of my friend and classmate in 
Giessen, the late Thomas J. Summer, Esq., to communicate the following analy- 
tical results arrived at by him whilst in the Giessen laboratory, and which have 
not been published, that I am aware of, except in pamphlet form for circulation 
among his friends : 
Analysis of the Ash of the Cotton Plant. 
The analysis was carried on in the usual manner—6.181 grammes were di- 
gested with muriatic acid, and evaporated to dryness by the water bath. After 
moistening with acid and adding water, the insoluble portion was separated, 
which consisted of 0.621 sand and coal, and 0.403 silica. The filtrate was 
divided into three equal parts. In the first, the iron, in combination with phos- 
phoric acid, lime and magnesia, was determined. In the second,sulphuric and 
phosphoric aeids. In the third, the alkalies. 
The following are the per centage results : 
6:181 grammes. Percentage. 
Potassa, 1.365 22.08 
Soda, 0.06 0.97 
Lime, 1.082 17.50 ~ 
Magnesia, 0.324 5.24 
Oxide of iron, 0-444 7.18 
Phosphoric acid, 0.849 13.73 
Sulphuric acid, 0.081 1.31 
Chloride of sodium, 0.037 0.59 
Silica, 0.403 6.52 
Carbonic acid, 1.066, ash gave 0.168 15.76 
Sand and coal, 0.621 10.04 
100.92 
The Ash of the Seed. 
The seeds were burned in a mufile; only a slight red heat was necessary to 
burn them perfectly white. 
For estimating the amount of water 6.406 grammes of the seed, dried at 2129, 
lost 0.646, or ten per cent. water; 6.587 of the dried seed left by incineration 
in a platinum crucible, 0.237, or 3.6 percent. ash. The qualitative analysis 
showed the same constituents as in the ash of the plant, with the exception of 
carbonic acid. ‘The following are the analytical results: 
Percentage. 
Potassa, . ° . ‘ ° A 27.82 
Soda, ; ° ; ‘ . 4 : ° 2.75 
imew vai : : i 3 ‘ 10.88 
Magnesia, : ‘ : : : ° 10.61 
Oxide of iron, . oe ° ° : ‘ : 3.43 
Phosphoric acid, . ° : : : 35.43 
Sulphuric acid, : : : : ; ‘ 3.19 
Coal, . ‘ ° . - : ° 1.05 
Traces of Silica, Q : 5 5 . 5 5 4.84 
Loss and Cholorine. : : : . 4 ‘ 
100.00 
