194 THE SYSTEM OF FARM- YARD MANURING. 



Cunnersdorf. Kotitz. Oberbobritzsch. 



11 : 12 : 14 



In investigating the reasons for this inequality in the 

 produce of corn, we discover at the same time the causes 

 of the difference in the proportion between the corn and 

 straw. 



It is necessary to remember that what is called straw 

 (i. e. the leaves, stalks, and roots) is formed from the al- 

 bumen of the cereal seeds, that is, from the constituent 

 elements of the seeds ; and, further, that these parts of 

 the plant are the organs for the reproduction of these 

 same seed constituents. 



The production of the straw always precedes the 

 formation of the grain ; and that portion of the seed 

 elements which serves to form the organs of the plant 

 cannot be used to make seed : or, the more seed-con- 

 stituents are turned into straw-constituents within the 

 appointed time of growth, the fewer will remain at the 

 close of that period for the formation of seed (see p. 63). 



Before the period of flowering, all the seed-constitu- 

 ents go to form straw ; after that period, a division takes 

 place. 



Therefore, if all other conditions of soil and weather 

 are equally favourable, the quantity of straw will de- 

 pend upon the amount of seed-constituents needed for 

 the formation of straw. 



The quantity of corn depends upon the residue of 

 seed-constituents in the whole plant, which are no longer 

 required for the multiplication and enlargement of 

 leaves, stalks, and roots. 



Let K represent that portion of the corn constituents 

 that may be formed into seed ; dK the other fraction of 

 the same substances, w r hich remain as constituents in 

 the straw ; and St the other constituents comprised in 

 the straw : so that 



K:= (phosphoric acid, nitrogen, potash, lime, magnesia, iron), 

 K=a fraction of K, 



acid, potash, lime, magnesia, iron); 



then the nutritive substances which the plant has ab- 

 sorbed from the soil, may be thus expressed : 



