552 Mil. J. B. LAWES, Ml. GILBERT, AND DIl. I'L'OII OS 



No. 5. — Beans (1857); two seeds; prepared pumice ; without t&brogerums manure. 



June 9. — One plant 1£ inch high, blackened, and dying; the other smaller and 

 already dead. 



As will be seen by the records (p. 557), Beans Nos. 10 & 11 showed equally unhealthy 

 growth; all were therefore removed and re-planted. It was obvious that the failure 

 was too early to be due to want of available nitrogen; especially, as No. 4 Beans with a 

 similar amount of nitrogen lived. The result was considered to be due to the caus- 

 ticity of the ash, as beans set in ash-free soil and pumice flourished much longer, and in 

 the case of No. 4 the seeds happened to be so placed as to be washed when water was 

 applied. 



It was found on examination that all showed signs of recommencement of growth ; new 

 roots and stems were forming. The seeds, &c. were removed ; a little sulphuric acid added 

 to the soil (or pumice) to neutralize the ash, and it was then ignited as originally, put into 

 fresh red-hot pots, and cooled and moistened over sulphuric acid. Before putting in 

 fresh seeds, holes were made for them in the soil, and water poured in to remove soluble 

 matter from the neighbourhood of the young rootlets. The experiments were then 

 continued as before. 



Report of No. 5 Beans continued. 



June 24. — One plant just up. 



July 1. — An accident occurred to this experiment. A fresh pot of soil, prepared 

 precisely as above, w r as planted with beans that had been set in small glass tubes ready 

 for any contingency, and the experiment continued. 



July 4. — One plant, leaves just opening. 



July 11. — Still only one plant up, and it looks very unhealthy. 



July 22. — One plant, obviously dying. 



July 29.— Dead. 



No. 6. — Wlieat (1857); three seeds; prepared soil ; with nitrogenous manure. 



(See Plate XV. fig. 7.) 



June 9. — Two plants up ; one 2^, the other 4J inches high ; three leaves each. Tips 

 of leaves slightly yellower than those of Wheat No. 1 . 



June 10. — A pipette-ful of the solution of sulphate of ammonia ( = - 0057S gramme N.) 

 added to the soil. 



June 15. — Two plants ; green and vigorous ; marked improvement since the addition 

 of ammonia-salt ; the leaves wider and_of a deeper green. Three leaves each plant. 



June 24. — Two plants ; 7 inches high ; four or five leaves each ; lower ones dried up. 

 upper ones deeper green than Wheats No. 1. 



July 4. — Two plants ; 9 inches high ; six leaves each ; lower ones yellow, upper ones 

 broad, long, and of a healthy deep green ; but the vigour due to the first addition of 



