236 HOW CROPS GROW. 



1 : 12J, 1 : 27, 1 : 16, 1 : 23, 1 : 19. 



Accordingly, the absorption of ash-ingredients is not 

 proportional to the growth of the plant, but is to some 

 degree accidental, and independent of the wants of 

 vegetation. 



Recapitulation. Assuming the quantity of each proxi- 

 mate element in the ripe plant as 100, it contained at 

 the end of the several periods the following amounts 

 (per cent) : 



Fiber. Fat. Carbhydrates.* Albuminoids. Ash. 



I. Period, 18 20 15 27 29 



II. " 81 50 47 45 55 



III. 100 85 70 57 79 



IV. " 100 100 92 90 95 

 V. " 100 100 100 100 100 



Taking the total gain as 100, the gain during each 

 period was accordingly as follows (per cent) : 



Fiber. Fat. Carbhydrates.* Albuminoids. Ash. 



I. Period, 18 20 15 27 29 



II. " 63 30 32 18 26 



III. " 19 35 23 12 24 



IV. " 15 22 33 16 

 V. " 00 8 10 5 



100 100 100 100 100 



6. As regards the individual ingredients of the ash, 

 the plant contained at the end of each period the follow- 

 ing amounts, the total quantity in the ripe plant being 

 taken at 100. Corresponding results from Bretschneider 

 enclosed in ( ) are given for comparison: 



Sulphuric Phosphoric 



Silica. Ofide Oxide Lime. Magnesia. Potash. 



Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. Per<-r:ii. 



I. Period, 18 ( 22) 20 ( 42) 23 ( 23) 30 ( 31) 24 ( 31) 39 ( 42) 



41 \ ( 57) 52 ) ( 44) 42 \ ( 63) ^ 1 ( 83) ^ } ( 73) 70 } ( 89) 



III. " 70' 52< 78 > TO 88 > 91 ^ 



IV. " 93 ( 72) 90 ( 39) 91 ( 74) 99 ( 74) 84 ( 77) 100 (100) 

 V. " 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (100) 100 (95) 



The gain (or loss, indicated by the minus sign ) in 

 these ash-ingredients during each period is given below: 



* Exclusive of Fiber- 



