The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-08-27
- lie llonthiy Bulletln.

.
As there has been q good deal Of
aiscuasion in the agricultural and
Other journals in regard to the COM
spOsition and value of the ash of the
palmetto, the State Chemist decided
4. some time since to make little in-
yestigation of the matter, rather,
however, for his own personal satis-
faction than with any intention Of
Publishing the facts thus obtained.
The limited time at his disposal has
prevented the completion Of some
Investigations begun several months
since, and what he has now to offer
must be taken as partial and provis-
ional rather than completed work.
The most obvious fact in regard to
the palmetto root would seem to be
that no two analytical chemists
agree as to its composition. 1t is
not impossible, perhaps not improb-
able, that like some other plants the
palmetto may vary in composition
according to the soil upon which it
IS grown. Thea, too, the name "pal-
metto" is popularity applied to sew
eral related but by no means identical
species, and the analyses may not
always have been made of the same
plant, and this also may have added
80 the confusion on the subject. The
writer does not profess to be able
to explain all these discrepancies in
published analyses. lie simply begs
to submit what he himself found in a
single analytical determination of
mature root Of the ordinary
saw palmetto (sabat serulata) and
which was Obtained about two miles
southwest Of Tallahassee, and was
grown in rather low spot in the or
binary reddish clay soil Of this part
Of the state.
First, The green root freshly gath
cred was examined the same day 1t
was obtained, and found to contain
$3.50 per cent. of water, and 35. 20
per cent. OF dry fibre. The proper
zion of ash to the green root was
found to be 90 of one per cent, or
l84 pounds to the ton. In prepar-
ing this ash great care was taken to
remove all adhering silica, which I'M
der ordinary conditions of burning
makes up large part of the so-called
"palmetto ASH" This ash gave 24.4O
per cent. OF potash (K2O) and s.S7
per cent. OF phosphoric acid (P2O5l.
The remaining portion OF the ash
consists of silica, lime, soda, magne-
STA, oxide of iron, oxide of manga
nese, soda, etc. The exact amounts
of these elements found may be
given when the writer has TIM to
complete his Investigations. In other
words, a ton $4,000 pounds) of per-
fectly clean saw palmetto roots con-
tain ls4 pounds of ash, 44s9 of
which consists of potash, and 1882
pounds of phosphoric acid. Estimat-
ing the potash at 81 cents a pound
gives lis value in this ash az 1898,
and Of the 1882 pounds of phos-.
phoric acid al cents as Sl63 total
value of ash from one ton Of roots
1856.
This, however, is very far from
representing the ash as ordinarily
obtained. If the palmetto root is
examined it will be found to be COW
cred with the sheathing remains of
the decayed leaf stalks-"petlole>.""
Underneath these and concealed
from ordinary observation will al
ways be found more or less sand and
earthly material accumulated in the
process of growth. No amount Of
ordinary washing or shaking will re-
move this. Nor will its presence be
suspected unless this clasping fib"ous
petiole is removed. A rough esti-
mate which / made indicated that at
least one pound of sand is concealed
on each ten pounds of root. To OBJ
tain ton of real roots we must
gather 22O0 pounds of apparently
clean roots. Ii we burn this mate.
rial we shall get not only the 1e4
pounds OF real ash, but also mixed
with it the 200 or more pounds Of
sand, which OF course does not burn.
Nearly 400 pounds of what seems to
be ash will be obtained, with cor
responding diminution OF the amount
of phosphoric, acid and potash
present.
Ia point of fact judging from the
samples of palmetto ash which have
received for analysis-the ordinary
process of open field burning gives
even . larger percentage of sand than
this. ! never yet have seen sample
Of palmetto ash from an ordinary
/ producer that gave over six per cent.
of actual potash, showing that in
some way. ash produced in open fires