Ash in Plants 45 



Phos- Sul- 



Pot- Mae Iron phoric furic Chlor- 



Grain ash Soda Lime nesia oxide acid acid Silica ine 



Winter wheat 61 .04 .06 .24 .03 .93 .01 .04 



Oats 56 .05 .11 .22 .04 .80 .06 1.22 .03 



Summer barley 56 .06 .07 .23 .03 .92 .05 .68 .03 



Maize kernel 43 .02 .03 .22 .01 .60 .01 .03 .01 



Peas 1.18 .03 .13 .22 .02 .98 .09 .02 .04 



Field beans 1.51 .04 .18 .26 .02 1.41 .12 .02 .06 



We cannot fail to observe as we study these figures 

 that potash, lime and phosphoric acid are the promi- 

 nent mineral compounds of the plant ash, and con- 

 sequently it is with them that we find the important 

 variations. The true grasses differ from the clovers 

 and related plants in containing much less lime and 

 greatly more silica, the phosphoric acid and potash not 

 being greatly unlike in the two cases. As a source of 

 lime, then, the clover hay is superior. Potatoes and 

 roots are richer in potash and poorer in lime than are 

 the coarse fodders. The grains with hulls contain much 

 silica, and those like wheat and corn but little. The 

 seeds of the legumes are richer in potash and lime than 

 those of the grasses. The maize kernel is especially 

 poor in lime. 



The distribution of mineral compounds in the differ- 

 ent parts of the plant. Because the farmer separates 

 his crops into grain and straw, and the manufacturer 

 goes farther and divides the grain into parts, thus 

 modifying the character of feeding stuffs, it is worth 

 while to know just how the mineral compounds are 

 distributed in the stalk, leaves and fruit, especially 

 of the cereal grain plants. A comparison of the straws 

 and grains shows striking dissimilarities: 



