224 Prof. Norton on the Analysis of the Oat. 
were of the potato variety, and though retarded by the unusually 
wet season, were uniformly strong and healthy, the sample prov-— 
ing one of uncommon excellence. ‘The plants on the 4th of June 
were from four to six inches in height, consisting merely of one 
leaf, and the commencement of the stalk. These two parts, there- 
fore, are first to be considered, as to the quantity of ash which they 
yie ield. 
1. Of the Leaf—The following Table exhibits the proportions 
in the leaf at successive stages of its ee th—1. Of Water. 
2. ard haces 3. Of Ash calculated dry. iat 
TABLE ' 
ofits, 4 + 18; 2 a ee 
Per cent. of Water, 80 51182-7¢ 76 82°02178-53| 80-2676 21. -53|77 61 77:00 00 76° 18) 79-93|70-63)24° o460 
Per cent. of Ash, | 2-16 1°86] 1 63} 2°35) 2-24) 281} 3-06] 385) 3-78) 3.75) 6:14) 4°25} 6-49)15:78 
Do.caleulated dry, 10-83110°791 9 07;10-95} 11-35! 12-201 12°61!16-45)16 44] 16:05120:47'21 -14\22-13 20°90 
During the whole growth of the plant the diminution in the 
quantity of water in the leaf was not great, being only about 10 
rent. from the 4th of June to the 27th of August. So late as 
the 20th of August it was nearly as high as at first. When the 
plant becomes ripe, however, the leaf at once withers, and this ac- 
peek for the great decrease of water between the 27th of Au- 
gust and the 3d of September. This decrease in the water gives 
a great apparent increase of ash in the undried leaf. When cal- 
cuiated dry, in the third line, there appears an actual decrease from 
the two preceding weeks. ‘There may have been some change 
in the circulation at the last, by which a portion of the inorganic 
materials ro carried back into the stalk, 
2. Of the Stalk,—The per-centages of water, of ash, and of 
ash caleul ated pays were determined as in the leaf. 
Taser IT. 
' ~ “August t.| 
30. | 6 1 13. | 20. | 27. “ 
gre 75 66/69 80|76-27\71-57)717 
2°01) 2°00} 15S] 2°19 
745) 7-63] ‘Geel Ge 6:66] 7°71] | 835 
sald Me Bi SA 
ae 1-40 
10. 4 9-83) } 2 : 7} 
Percent.of Water. 
Per cent. of Ash, 
Do.caleulated dry, 11! 
1-28) 140 1°63 
Tily 
P 4 aa 23. 
83°66|82-05180 oalta 
7°33, 7:80 a 7-99 
The decrease of water during the growth of this part is con- 
siderably more than in the leaf. The quantity of ash in the 
undried straw (second ae increases toward the end, as in 
undried leaf. This, in both cases, is owing to the gradual dis- 
appearance of the water ; a we see, in the third ig that the 
actual per-centage of ash in the dried stalk is less on the 3d of 
September than it was on the 4th of June. In the earlier grow th 
of ne stalk, the dried stem or solid part, though less in quantity, 
actually contains a larger per-centage of ash than is afterwards 
necessary to its perfect maturity. As the stalk is the stem of the 
plant, through it must pass the inorganic materials necessary, for 
the building up of all the other parts. How wise the provision, 
