134 Extracts from the Journals. [July, 



On the 26^ of June, when the Wlieat was in flower, he mark- 

 ed out 40 plants as equal as possible. Twenty of these were 

 taken, the remainder reserved for future observation. After hav- 

 ing cleaned and dried the 20 first plants, he found that they were 

 composed of — 



oz. (avdp.) 



Roots, 1.5 



Stems, spikes, and leaves, 4.4 



5.9 ounces. 



The remaining 20 plants were gathered after the ripening of 



their seeds on the 2Sth of August, and gave — 



oz. (advp.) 



Roots, .95 



Straw, spike, chaff, and leaves, 3.01 



Seeds, 2.34 



6.30 ounces. 



In becoming ripe the plants had increased by 4-lOths of an 

 ounce only, that is, by about l-16th of their weight. The Wheat, 

 therefore, had gained from the time of sowing to flowering 15- 

 15ths of its whole weight. If, then, it had been mown when in 

 flower, it would have returned to the earth by means of its roots, 

 a fourth of the weight of the crop, whereas, when ripe, it left in 

 the soil one-seventh only. 



The practical inferences to be deduced from this experiment, 

 if correct, are important; for if it is true that a plant cut when it 

 is in flower contains already nearly the whole of the organic 

 matter which it will contain a month or two later, as regards hay 

 crops, it would be more advantageous to mow before, rather than 

 after flowering. The method recommended by certain cultivators 

 of multiplying the cropping and cutting of hay, on the same field, 

 would thus be justified — a method whose merits are veiy doubtful 

 in the estimation of many practical men, but which, were it well- 

 founded, would have the advantage, which is always of such con- 

 sequence in cultivation, of producing the greatest quantity of 

 fodder in a given space of time. Thus, setting on one side the 

 question of the exhaustion of the soil, which is quite a secondary 

 point; M. Boussingault has devoted his attention especially to 

 verifying the exactness of the experiment whose consequences are 

 so important. 



He proceeded in the same way as M. de Dombasle; but to 

 avoid the risk of any important error which might arise from the 

 dessication not being perfect, he thought it best to analyse the 

 matters taken from the soil. In fact, analysis offers a great se- 



