DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG AND MATURE PLANTS. 105 



Chestnuts 49.2 1.6 4.3 2.0 41.3 1.6 



Apples and Pears 83.1 0.4 0.3 4.3 11.8 



Pumpkins 8J).l 1.0 0.6 2.7 6.5 0.1 



FEEDING SUBSTANCES. 



Brewers Grains 76.G 1.2 4.9 5.2 11.0 1.1 



Malt Sprouts 10.1 7.2 24.3 14.3 42.1 2.1 



Wheat Bran, fine 13.1 5.4 14.0 8.7 55.0 3.8 



" coarse 12.9 G.6 15.0 10.1 52.2 3.2 



Rye Bran 12.5 5.2 14.5 5.7 58.6 4.5 



Pea Bran 12.3 3.0 8.0 43.7 30.5 2.5 



Linseed Meal, new process 9.7 7.3 33.2 8.8 38.7 2.3-^ 



Cotton Seed, whole meal 11.3 6.4 23.6 22.0 30.5 6.1 



Cotton Seed Meal, without hulls 11.2 7.6 38.8 9.2 19.5 13.7 



The above figures show precisely what inorganic, or min- 

 eral substances, plants draw from the soil. They also show 

 that the quantity of inorganic matter contained in the same 

 weight of different crops varies greatly. Thus while the 

 grain of corn contains only 1.42 per cent, of inorganic mat- 

 ter; peas contain twice as much; oats two and a half times 

 as much; and rice five and a half times as much. Also the 

 quantity contained in the various parts of the same plant 

 varies in a similar manner. Wheat grain has but 2.07 per 

 cent of ash but the straw has more than twice as much 

 and the chaff has over five times as much. Barley shows a 

 still greater difference in this way and so on through the 

 whole tables. The same facts apply to trees and their bark 

 and leaves. 



Another important point is peculiarly worthy of notice; 

 this is the difference between plants in an early stage of 

 growth and when they are mature. Young grass for in- 

 stance contains considerably more ash than ripe hay and 

 this ash consists of much more important elements of vege- 

 table growth. The large quantity of potash and phosphoric 

 acid shown to be needed by such grass as is used for pastur- 

 ing, seems to disappear as it grows older and to be replaced 

 by silica. What becomes of these two substances, so valua- 

 ble and indispensable in the aliment of animals, and which 

 gives to the young stock the materials for building up their 

 growing muscles and bones ; and how is it that the mature 

 grass has so large a quantity of silica which is of no use as 

 aliment to animals? But we see a purpose in this, although 

 it operates to the disadvantage of the farmer. The first law 



