SOIL CONDITIONS AFFECTING PLANT GRO WTH 67 



phorus is a constituent of the nucleus, and also for the 

 normal transformations of starch. Loew (180^) found that fat 

 and albumin accumulated in absence of phosphates, but the 

 colour was yellow and there was no cell division ; as soon as 

 a trace of potassium phosphate was added, however, energetic 

 cell division took place. Reed (236) showed that starch was 

 formed in absence of phosphorus, but did not change to sugars ; 

 erythrodextrin wa^ formed instead and also cellulose. 



Table XX. — Results of Withholding Phosphates, Potassium Compounds, 

 AND Nitrogen Compounds from Barley. Hoos Field Experiments, 



ROTHAMSTED. 



The effects of phosphates in raising the quality and feeding 

 value of the crop are very great. The most nutritious pastures 

 in England and the best dairy pastures in France are those 

 richest in phosphates. Soils deficient in phosphates are nearly 

 alway unsatisfactory. Paturel ^ has also shown that the best 



^Bull. Soc. Nat. Agric., 1911, p. 977. 



5* 



