214 



HOW CROPS GROW. 



second, the second from the third, etc.,) the gain from 

 matters absorbed or produced during each period, will 

 serve to justify the deductions that follow, which are taken 

 from the treatise of Arendt, and which apply, of course, 

 only to the plants examined by this investigator. 



1,000 ENTIRE PLANTS, (WATEK-FREE.) 



1. The plant increases in total weight, (dry matter,) 

 through all its growth, but to unequal degrees in different 

 periods. The greatest growth occurs at the time of head- 

 ing out ; the slowest, within ten days of maturity. 



We may add that the increase of the oat after blossom 

 takes place mostly in the seed, the other organs gaining 

 but little. The lower leaves almost cease to grow after 

 the 2d period. 



2. Fiber is produced most largely at the time of head- 

 ing out, (2d period.) When the plant has finished blos- 

 soming, (end of 3d period,) the formation of fiber entirely 

 ceases. Afterward there appears to occur a slight diminu- 



* The weights in this table are grams. One gram = 15.434 grains. As the 

 weights have mostly a comparative value, reduction to the English standard is 

 unnecessary 



