AGRlCUIvTURAI, BOTANY, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF PI^ANTS IIO3 



ed, but the percentage of sugar in the root is not changed to any marked 

 extent . 



3) An increase of the dry substance and the sugar content is secured 

 by administering sodium chloride and potassium chloride together. A 

 physiologically balanced salt solution, in which the toxic action of the two 

 salts is mutually neutralised, then forms in the soil. To neutralise the toxic 

 properties of a ^/^ N. solution of potassium chloride only a ^J^q N. solution 

 of sodium chloride is needed. 



4) Calcium carbonate employed in a ^/k, N. solution in the presence 

 of corresponding quantities of potassium chloride and sodium chloride not 

 only acts favourably on the growth of the root and its sugar content, but 

 is also able to counteract the toxic effect of abnormal quantities of potassium 

 chloride or sodium chloride administered either separately or together. 

 The maximum production of dry substance and sugar is obtained by using 

 the 3 salts (KCl, NaCl, and CaCOg) together. Calcium carbonate especially 

 promotes the growi;h of the root. 



5) The toxic effect of potassium chloride and sodium chloride is 

 counteracted by calcium chloride, but this phenomenon affects rather the 

 content of sugar than the quantity of dry substance. The maximum 

 sugar production was obtained by using the 3 chlorides together. 



6) Sodium chloride and potassium chloride do not promote the growth 

 of plants during the first 2 periods of development (after 27 and 57 days re- 

 spectively), if used separately ; but if employed together, the production of 

 vegetable matter increases. In the 3rd period of growth (after 76 days), when 

 the beet is at a more advanced age, the effect of potassium chloride far 

 exceeds that of sodium chloride. On using both salts together, the increase 

 of production in the third period is not equal to that in the ist and 2nd 

 period of growth. 



7) The anatomical changes in the plants are highly characteristic, 

 if potassium chloride and sodium chloride are not used together in the 2nd 

 period of vegetation. Potassium chloride produces well developed, firm 

 leaves, fairh'' fine, not very curly, having a leaf stalk rich in chlorophyll, 

 while sodium chloride results in softer leaves, with a fair amount of curl, 

 and with leaf stalks reddish at the base. 



The potassium ion therefore has a great influence on the firm con- 

 sistency of the leaves and promotes the formation of chlorophyll, thus forming 

 an important factor in the process of assimilation. 



The sodium ion appears to influence the growth of the epideimis of the 

 plant and to a less extent the process of assimilation. 



It was also determined in what measure the potassium ion and the so- 

 dium ion were assimilated by the beet plant. The following were the results 

 obtained : 



(/I) The assimilation was at its maximum when the two chlorides 

 were together in the soil in a ^/jq N. solution, and at its niininuun when sodium 

 chloride alone was in the soil. 



{B) In those cases where the soil contained either sodium chloride 

 or potassium chloride or both together, in different concentrations, 4.16 grms 



