A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE ASPARAGUS PLANT. 279 



There cannot be said to have been any specific effect of the nitrate of 

 soda on the size of roots in 1908. The weights of the four roots from any 

 given plot varied more widely among themselves than the plot averages 

 differed from one another. 



There were some consistent variations in the weights of the roots dug 

 in 1910. The roots from plots 5 and 9, lacking phosphoric acid and potash, 

 respectively, were consistently lower in weight than the roots from any 

 other plot. The results of the absence of a nitrogen application to plots 1 

 and 40 were not positive because there were numerous roots from other 

 plots receiving nitrogen that were no heavier individually, and the average 

 weights for plots 32 and 39 were as small. 



Comparing plot averages in the series 31 to 39, the average weights of 

 roots from plots 32, 35 and 38 were consistently lower than those of the 

 roots from plots 31, 34 and 37, which indicated the probable effect of a 

 spring top-dressing to be an increase in the size of the roots. Neverthe- 

 less, the variations in weights of individual roots from any one of the 

 plots is wide, and renders the conclusion from averages doubtful. 



The effect of fertilizers on the inorganic constituents was thoroughly 

 studied by the complete ash analysis of each root dug in 1908, and similar 

 work on composite samples from the different plots in 1910. All the ash 

 analyses were made in the fertilizer section by Messrs. H. D. Haskins 

 and L. S. Walker, to whom the writer is indebted for the data which 

 appear in the tables. 



Inorganic Composition of Asparagus Roots {Percentages in Dry Matter). 



Roots of 1908. 



