432 SKINNER AND BEATTIE: EFFECT OF ASPARAGIN ON WHEAT 
were contained in wide-mouth bottles holding 250 c.c., and 10 
wheat plants were grown in each. The wheat plants when used 
for the experiment were about 2 cm. high; they had been pre- 
viously germinated on aluminum disks floated upon the surface 
of a tank of water. When large enough to use in the experiment, 
seedlings of uniform size were selected for the test. The culture 
solutions were changed every three days, four changes being made 
during the course of the experiment. The solutions were analyzed 
for nitrates immediately after each change. The phosphate and 
potash were determined in a composite of the four changes. By 
this means the effect of asparagin upon the absorption of nutrients 
by the seedlings could be studied during the course of the experi- 
ment. 
EFFECT OF ASPARAGIN ON GROWTH 
Two sets of cultures were prepared: to one set were added 
merely the nutrient salts; to a similar set 50 parts pet million of 
asparagin were added in each culture, in addition to the nutrient 
salts. The wheat seedlings grew in the culture solutions from 
November 13 to November 25. 
When the plants had grown for several days it was noticeable 
that the asparagin cultures were better developed, these seedlings 
having broader leaves and longer and better developed roots: 
This was more pronounced in some of the fertilizer mixtures that 
in others. The beneficial effect became more decided as the 
experiment progressed. The weight of the plants taken at the 
end of the experiment shows the beneficial effect produced es a 
asparagin. The total green weight of the 66 cultures on. 
asparagin was 148.2 grams against 134.9 grams for the 66 contro 
cultures, an increase of 9 per cent, as an average of all the aspar 
gin cultures. 
EFFECT OF ASPARAGIN ON GROWTH IN CULTURES CONTAINING XO 
NITRATE 
The effect of the asparagin was more marked in the pe ap 
containing potash and phosphate than in those which er 
potash, phosphate, and nitrate. The green weight of the ¢ i 
composed of potash and phosphate with and without as 
