REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



169 



Water. — This, as well known, is a most important constituent to the well-being of the 

 plant, its presence in certain proportions being absolutely essential to plant life and 

 the performance of the functions of food digestion and assimilation. It is the 

 vehicle by which the assimilated food is conveyed to the various tissues and organs of 

 the plant. The importance of a plentiful supply of soil water for the growth of the 

 plants and their abundant fructification cannot be over-estimated ; but since nature 

 must, in ordinary cases, be depended upon for it, there is no occasion to further discuss 

 this constituent. It may, however, be remarked that the tilth, cultivation, mulching and 

 the presence of humus (as furnished by an organic manure) have largely to do with the 

 conservation of soil moisture. 



Organic Matter. — Since all its constituents save nitrogen are procured from the 

 atmosphere, it is unnecessary here to consider it. Special remarks on the nitrogen con- 

 tained in the strawberry plant will be made when considering the elements removed 

 from the soil. 



Ash. — This represents the mineral matter taken from the soil. Its two most es- 

 sential constituents are potash and phosphoric acid. 



The foregoing data call for no special comment in detail. There is a great similarity 

 in the composition of the four varieties, the variation from the average being small. 



The following interesting table gives the percentages of the important constituents 

 in the ash : — 



Percentages of Important Constituents in Ash. 



Name of Variety of Strawberry. 



Sharpless, whole plant, in flower 



Crescent 



Wilson 



Manchester " " 



Average 



s 



23 67 

 29 10 

 27 82 

 24-75 



26 33 



p 



be 



c3 



610 

 5- 19 

 611 

 713 



613 



OS 



s 



CO 



402 

 3 43 

 460 

 5-89 



449 



It is here again noticeable that no great differences exist between the plants 

 analysed. Such as occur, might be accounted for by slight variations in the composition 

 of the soil in which they grew. 



The ash of the strawberry plant contains about 6 per cent of phosphoric acid, and 

 in the neighbourhood of 25 per cent (one-fourth its weight) of potash. 



Of the less important constituents, lime takes the precedence, being equal in 

 amount to the potash. 



The comparatively large proportion of silica and of oxide of iron and alumina in 

 the ash, are interesting from a scientific standpoint, but need not be considered here as 

 they are elements supplied in abundance by every soil. 



The next table gives the number of pounds of the three essential elements of fer- 

 tility, derived from the soil and contained in the strawberry plant, per 1,000 pounds 

 of green plants and per acre, estimating the number of plants in an acre at 50,000. 



