AZOTE SUPPLIED FROM THE AIR. 



257 



The above table is an epitome of the results of the five experiments 

 which, with the full explanations, occupy about five pages of the 

 author's work. The analyses made of seeds and plants at the 

 earliest times, were, of course, of other samples, of like kind and 

 quantities of seeds to those sown, and, as nearly as could be, of the 

 plants, compared to those transplanted. The results show the 

 following facts : 



As the artificial soils were devoid of all organic or nutritive 

 matter, the gains made by the plants were derived entirely from 

 pure (distilled) water, and from the atmosphere. The increase in 

 azote, of course, could have been obtained from the atmosphere 

 only. 



Besides the large gains made during growth, by all the plants, 

 of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the clover of 1st experiment 

 increased its azote by more than half the quantity contained in the 

 seeds ; in the clover of 4th experiment, the azote of the young 

 plants was nearly doubled ; and in 2d experiment, the azote of the 

 peas sown was more than doubled in the crop. 



In the growth of wheat, the gain of azote was scarcely appreci- 

 able (and, therefore, perhaps doubtful) ; and in the growth of oats, 

 there was an absolute loss of azote. 



The results of these very interesting and apparently very accu- 

 rate experiments (as seen in the author's full details), exhibit, in 

 a striking manner, how largely all the kinds of plants possess thein- 

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