364 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. v, N0.9 



the ash of the green straw and leaves decreased markedly with its age. 

 The withered leaves and straw thus contain a much greater percentage 

 of iron in the ash than the active or live parts of the plants. This would 

 indicate that iron, like sihca, is not transported or leached from the dead 

 tissue to the same extent as the other mineral elements. 



SUMMARY 



Ash analyses of upland rice were made at intervals to show the ash 

 composition of the plant, especially in regard to iron content, from an 

 early stage to complete maturity. 



The percentages of potash, phosphoric acid, and sulphur in the ash 

 of the whole plant aboveground decreased with the age of the plant, while 

 sihca increased and nitrogen in the dry matter decreased with the age. 



As compared with 103 days, when the panicles were just out, the 

 mature plant aboveground at 123 days with the seeds ripe contained an 

 equal amount of lime, magnesia, and phosphoric acid, slightly more iron, 

 sulphur, chlorin, nitrogen, and sihca, much less soda, and considerably 

 more potash. 



The percentages of iron in the ash of the green leaves and straw 

 decreased regularly and markedly with the age of the plant, while the 

 percentages of iron in the ash of the whole plant aboveground remained 

 fairly constant after the 26-day-old sample. 



Previous to flowering, the percentages of dry matter in the green plant 

 and of ash in the dry matter seemed to be influenced by the effect of the 

 weather on the growth of the plant. 



