66 now crops PKED. 



The Chenopodium vuharla exhales from its foliage a 

 body chemically related to ammonia, and that has been 

 mistaken for it. This substance, known to the chemist as 

 triinethylamine, is also contained in the flowers of Cra- 

 ppgus oxycanthd^ and is the cause of the detestable odor 

 of these plants, which is that of putrid salt fish.* (Wicke, 

 Liehig's A/m., 124, p. 338.) 



Certain fungi (toad-stools) emit trimeth ylamine, or some 

 analogous compound. (Lehmann, Sachs^ Experimental 

 Plcyslolojie der I^anzen, p. 273, note.) 



It is not impossible that ammonia, also, may be exhaled 

 from these plants, but we have as yet no proof that such 

 is the case. 



Ammonia of the Atmospheric Waters. — The ammonia 

 proper to the atmosphere has little effect upon plants 

 through their foliage when they are sheltered from dew 

 and rain. Such, at least, is the result of certain experi- 

 ments. 



Boussingault (Agronomie, Chinile Agricole, et Physi-. 

 ologie, T. I, p. 141) made ten distinct trials on lupins, 

 beans, oats, wheat, and cress. The seeds were sown in a 

 soil, and the plants were w.itered with water both exempt 

 from nitrogen. The plants were shielded by glazed cases 

 from rain and dew, but had full access of air. The result 

 of the ten experiments taken together was as follows: 



Weiglit of seeds 4.965 grin's. 



" dry harvest 18.730 " 



Nitrogea in harvest and soil.. .2499 " 

 " " seeds 2307 " 



Gain of nitrogen 0192 grm's = 7.6 per cent of the 



total quantity. 



When rains fall, or dews deposit upon the surface of the 



* Triinethylamine CsHuN = N (01X3)3 may be viewed as ammonia NH3, in 

 which the three atoms of liydro',aui are replaced by three atoms of methyl 

 CH3. It is a jras like anmionia, and has its i)nn';ency, but accompanied with the 

 odor of stale fish. It is prepared from herring pickle, and used iu medicine un- 

 der the name ijropylamine. 



