e 



m 



TS 



THE GENESEE FAKMEE. 



plants, during the entire period of tlieir growth — 1Y2 days — from March 19 to Sep- 

 tember 7. Quantities given in grains, (7000 grains make one pound.) 



Description of Plant 



Total "Water 

 Bupplied. 



Wheat, 



Barley, 



Beans, 



Peas, 



Clover, (cut June 2Sth,) 



79,800 

 88,800 

 87,800 

 81,800 

 28,600 



Total Water 

 obtained 

 from Soil. 



Total Water 

 given off 



33,727 

 31,225 

 24,431 



27.2-^2 

 26,693 



113,527 



120,1125 

 112.231 

 l(i9,fiS2 

 56,093 



As has been stated, the jars were often weighed, so that the amoimt of water given 

 off by the plants during the different periods of their growth could be ascertained. 

 The following table gives the average daily loss of water (in grains) during stated 

 periods of the experiment : 



As might have been anticipated, as the season advanced in temperature, and the 

 mass and surface of the plants increased, the quantity of water daily given off was 

 greater ; yet towards the end of the experiment it rapidly and considerably diminished ; 

 and it is probable that the period of the most rapid circulation, as shown by the amount 

 of water exhaled, was that of the greatest accumulation of materials in the plant ; and 

 that when the evaporation and apparent circulation diminished, the ripening and elabo- 

 rating processes had commenced. 



The clover plant was cut when in full bloom, July 28 ; the pea, August 11 ; the 

 other plants, September 7th. The following table will give the total weight of dry matter, 

 organic matter, and mineral matter or ash, in the plants. Quantities given in grains, &c. 



fs 



The above table is of little independent interest. It shows that though the soil, pre- 

 vious to the commencement of the experiment, had been particularly exhausted of nitro- 

 gen by the growth and removal of ten grain crops without manure ; yet with no manure 

 of any kind supplied to the plants in the jars, the grains of the beans and peas, though 

 highly nitrogenous, thrived better than those of wheat and barley. From this it may be 

 inferred that the leguminous plants can and do obtain their large amount of nitrogen 

 from the atmosphere, but that the cereals wheat, barley, <fec., are dependent on a supply 

 of nitrogen in the soil. This, too, is consistent with the results of extensive experiments 

 in the field on wheat and beans, the former being greatly benefited by the application 

 of nitrogenous manures, while the latter and other plants of the same botanic order are 

 not benefitted. 



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