A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE ASPARAGUS PLANT. 281 



Total Nitrogen in the Dry Matter of Asparagus Roots — Concluded, 

 Roots of 1910. 



Total nitrogen was determined in every root sample. The results in- 

 dividually and by plot averages are consistent. The absence of nitrogen 

 in the top-dressing results in a low percentage of nitrogen in the roots 

 from plots 1 and 40. The minimum and medium applications of nitrate 

 show results on the percentages of nitrogen in the roots following the 

 same order in relative quantities. The maximum application of nitrate 

 of soda produced no result in excess of the medium apphcation. 



The application of the nitrate in midsummer was accompanied by a 

 positively higher percentage of nitrogen in the roots from those plots, 

 viz., plots 32, 35 and 38. 



There was no apparent effect of fertilizers on the organic constituents 

 of the roots, except that due to the influence on the nitrogenous group. 

 High protein was accompanied by a lessened sugar percentage, but low 

 sugar percentages also frequently occurred with low protein, in which 

 condition there was a high fiber content. Consequently sugar and fiber 

 fluctuated -widely in samples from the same plot on account of some condi- 

 tion that was independent of fertilizers. 



Tliis wide fluctuation was most extreme in plot 9 of the 1910 series. 



