236 HOW CROPS GEOW. 



1 : 12}, 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. Ah. 



1. 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 



HI. " 19 35 23 12 24 



IV. " 15 22 33 16 



V. " 00 8 10 5 



100 100 100 100 "lOO 



6. As regards the individual ingredients of the ask, 

 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. Oxide Oxide Lime. Magnesia. Potash. 



Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



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



II. 41| (5 62 J (44) 42} 58 (83) 42. 70. 



III. " 70 J 52' 73* 79) ' 58 J 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. 



