94 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



Average weight of crop to plant : 



G pease: 1st 3tl, o.TG grams; Sd 3d, 4.09 fjrams. 



5 beans: 1st Sd, 100.9 grams; 'M 3d, 155.i> grams. 

 8 coru : 1st 3d, 77.3 grams ; 3d 3d, 97.4 grams. 



7 corn : 1st 3d, 53.4 grams; 3d 3d, 21.3 grama. 

 Average ueight of entire crop: 



6 pease : 1st 3d, 241.0 grams; 3d 3d, 283.5 grams. 

 5 beans : 1st 3d, 503.2 grams; 3d 3d, 614.8 grams. 



8 corn: 1st 3d, 1568.6 grams; 3d 3d, 1679.9 grams. 



7 corn: 1st 3d, 5SS.7 grams; 3d 3d, 161.6 grams. 



Total average per cent, plants from seed: 1st 3d, 55.8 per cent. ; 3d 3d, 49.1 per cent. 

 Total average i^er cent, seeds sprouted: 1st 3d, 63.6 per cent. ; 3d 3fl, ."'S.U per cent. 

 Total average weight of crop to plant : 1st 3d, 58.4 gi-ams; 3d 3d, 66.6 grams. 

 Total average v.eight of entire crop : 1st 3d, 793.5 grams; 3d 3d, 744.1 grama. 



As "svill be seen from tlie above, the percentage of seed Tvliich sprouted 

 ■w^as generally liiglier in tlie case of the best thirds, but was in no case 

 so high as the character of seed used appeared to warrant. In fact all 

 the seed used appeared to possess Titaht}', and the results obtained 

 by experiment were doubtless due to the uufa-vorable conditions after 

 the i)lanting, by which the seed was destroyed. 



As will be seen from the analyses, the composition of the best and 

 poorest thirds of seed used in these experiments was about identical, 

 and the only difference between the individual seeds from the best and 

 poorest thirds was a quantitative one, which the character of the soil 

 and season made of no account. 



But although the above experiments fail to be conclusive, or indeed 

 of value as an element in settling the main question proposed, the fol- 

 lowing results obtained in England in 1877 with oats are most impor- 

 tant. The analyses given are by Prof. Henry Tanner. 



Conatituents. 



Composition of— 



Gluten 



Starch, Rum, &o 



Fatty matter 



Cellulose 



NitroKenous matter (not true albuminoids) 



Alkaline salts in ash , 



Earthy salts in ash 



Silicious matter in ash , 



Water 



100. 00 



Constituents. 



Composition of crop. 



Gluten 



Starch, gum, &c 



Fatty matter 



Cellulose 



Nitrogenous matter (not true albuminoids) 



Alkaline salts in ash 



Earthy salts in ash 



Silicious matter in ash 



Water 



*Eorty-nine pounds per bushel. 



t Twenty pounds per bushel. 



t^ifty bushels per acre, -n-ein:hing 43 pounds per bnsheL 



5 Ten bushels per acre, liveighing 22 pounds per buslieL 



