Prof. Norion on the Analysis of the Oat. 233 
cent., in the middle straw it is 55 per cent., in the bottom straw 
77 percent. ‘The increase of these soluble salts, therefore, is very 
great as we proceed downwards, i proportion being nearly 
twice as great at the bottom as at the top. 
To the abundance of sulphuric acid and the total absence of 
phosphoric acid in the watery solution. 
3. That as the salts soluble in water increase from. the top 
ea the silica increases from the bottom upwards. ‘This 
o-be am invariable law. . The quantity of ash, as I have 
so varies, being sometimes greater in one part and sometimes 
in another; but whichever part this may be, whether the top or 
the bottom has most ash, in every case that I have examined, the 
top has the most silica, and the bottom the most salts ‘soluble in 
Water 
Having thus shown that i Ma parts of the same straw vary, 
I proceed to prove, in the second place, that the same parts vary 
in different straws. In order to make my results bear upon as 
many questions as possible, I have selected two samples of the 
same variety of oats grown on two widely different soils. No. 1, 
was from a light rather sandy loam, of good quality. No. 2, was 
om a poor mossy soil, where the great spe “h is to make the 
straw stand. 
cone giving the Miers: a Ash nh Straw of two specimens 
of Hi 
ab ee p Bey 
lool p No.& ) No.t. | No.2 | Nol. [ No® 
Top | Top | Middle | Middle | Bottom | Bottom. 
Straw. | Straw. Straw. | Straw. | Straw. ra 
Salts soluble in water, chiefly ; 
eo and chlor ids, 41-96 |. 71°70 | 55-22 | 84-03 | 77-46 | 90-26 
Phosphates lige magnesia 
, andiron, ‘ 2:94 |. 077] 303). 151] 078) 221 
Lime or magnesia, We 0 11-29 | 14:34] 9-70} 873] 9-16]. 2-65 
Silica SiBebde 43-75 | 13:18 | 32-05 5:72 | 12:55 4-86 
99-94 | 99-99 }100-00 | 99-99 | 99°95 | 99-98 
- On comparison of the above analyses, it is first to be noticed, 
that there is an extraordinary difference in the per-centage of salts 
soluble in water, in each part of the two samples. .. The top straw 
and middle straw. of No. 2, each contain about 30 pens cent. mpre 
than the corresponding portions of No. £. 
2. That this difference is equally great as ‘regards the silica. 
3. That the lime and magnesia also in both instances are great- 
est in the top straw 
is table may be considered a very excellent pero a of 
the extent to which the soil modifies the composition 
No. 1, is a fair example of a healthy straw. No. 2, being the 
same y variety of oat, has been. grown where its wants were not 
fully ‘supplied. - tera ‘said that on the — from which 
Srconp Senies, Vol. 11, No. 8.—March, 1847. 
