324 [Assembly 



CJontain Phosphoric acid, .... 1 5 . 60 



*^ Phosphate of iron,.. 1.85 



" Lime, 4.95 



" Magnesia, 0.75 



«< Potai;h, 5.80 



" Soda, 39.20 



«• Clilorine, 2.45 



« Sulphuric acid, 3.90 



Organic matter, trace, 



99.70 



One hundred pounds of fresh roots, remove from the soil a lit- 

 tle less than 25 ounces of inorganic matter. One hundred pounds- 

 of fresh tops, remove abont 35 ounces of inorganic matter,, 

 these amounts contain, in round numbers as follows : — 



2'5 ounces. 35 ounces. 



Carbonic acid, 6.15 7.30 



Silicic acid, 0.15 2.88 



Phosphoric acid, 3.90 1.68 



Phosphate of iron, 0.46 1.28 



Lime, 1.24 2.35 



Magnesia, 0.19 0.40 



Potash, 1.^5 2.10 



Soda, .*. 9 80 " 13.35 



Chlorine^ 0.61 O.ia 



Sulphuric acid, 0.98 1.72 



It may be regarded by some as quite unnecessaiy to enter into 

 a series of calculations which show the amount and kind of each 

 itigredient removed from the soil, by a given weight of the fresh 

 toots and tops separately, of the vegetable oyster. Those howev- 

 er, who live in the vicinity of large towns, and who raise this plant 

 in quantities for market, we tliink will find them valuable in the 

 way of pointing out the kind and quantity of each ingredient? 

 removed by a crop, and hence the kind and quantity of each ne- 

 cessary to add. The aggregate quantity raised, is to be sure, but 

 small, nevertheless it is highly desirable, and equally import£mt 

 to have what are grown of the best quality. This is only to be 

 ©ifected, to any degree of certainty, by knowing what kind of a 



