1010 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



by inducing the lignification of the central cylinder of the roots and 

 the meristem in the lower part of the stem. Of all the modifications 

 brought about in different plants this is the most important from an 

 agricultural point of view. 



Potassium silicate did not prevent the lodging of oats. Its effect 

 seems exerted principally upon the flower parts and leaves of the 

 wheat, the leaves had a peculiar bright green color and were much more 

 hairy. The salt induces the lignificatioii of the peripheral elements 

 toward the top of the stem as well as in certain parts of the leaves. 



The action of nitrates was found to differ with different species. 

 These salts were necessary for the growth of pine, although they 

 retarded the root growth. They are equally as essential for the Ipo- 

 mcea although strongly injurious at first. With the lupines the early 

 action of nitrates is advantageous, but later it is prejudicial to their 

 best development. Potassium nitrate is injurious to the growth of 

 wheat, oats, and eggplants in proportion to the quantity used. Cal- 

 cium nitrate favors the development of tomatoes, while it retards the 

 growth of pines. In soil cultures ammonium nitrate and potassium 

 nitrate were very favorable to the growth of hemp and buckwheat, 

 while sodium nitrate was injurious. It is said that nitrates, without 

 regard to their base, give to leaves a special color which is doubtless 

 due to the nitric acid. 



Although the potassium phosphate was found to decrease the ten- 

 dency of cereals to lodge, this is apparently clue to the phosphate, since 

 potash as a base is said to favor cell division, and as a consequence 

 rapid growth, thus retarding lignification and favoring lodging. 

 Sodium was found less active in inducing growth, but it hastens ligni- 

 fication of the lower part of the stem of cereals, preventing lodging. 

 Calcium and magnesium were found to favor the growth of hemp and 

 buckwheat. Experiments with the last two plants, it is claimed, 

 showed the order of efficiency of the acids in the bases used to be 

 nitric, phosphoric, and hydrochloric. 



A series of plat experiments with buckwheat and hemp is also 

 reported in which the effect of sodium and potassium chlorids, sodium, 

 potassium, and ammonium nitrates, calcium and magnesium sulphates, 

 potassium phosphate, ferric phosphate, and potassium oxalate on ger- 

 mination, growth, and yield were tested. 



Sodium chlorid injured the plants in proportion to the quantity used. 

 Potassium chlorid in proportion of 13.332 gm. per square meter favored 

 germination, while the oxalate was injurious. The potassium chlorid 

 favored growth in the earlier stages, but later the same quantity 

 became detrimental. The optimum quantity at the beginning of growth 

 proved very injurious at the flowering period. Of the nitrates tested, 

 the sodium nitrate had an injurious effect on the growth of the buck- 

 wheat, while the others favored it. The sulphates favored growth, and 

 in the earlier stages the influence was proportionate to the amount 

 used. 



