234 Prof. Norton on the Analysis of the Oat. 
extraordinary quantity. 
Before leaving for the present the subject of the straw, I may 
mention, that I have, so far as my time permitted, turned my at- 
tention to the disease called the smut in oats, and have several 
analyses of ash from the smutted straw. I regret much that they 
are not in a sufficiently advanced state for publication. So far 
as they go, they indicate a derangement in the circulation of the 
plant, especially in the top straw. 
The following comparison will show that in quantity the ash 
does not materially differ from that of the healthy straw. 
Taste XV. 
| Top straw. |Middle straw. 
5. 
Bottom straw. 
Y17 
| 
Ash from healthy straw, . —. ‘ 
Ash from smutted straw, : ‘ : 6-52 6:10 7:78 
ar La eae 
2. Of the ash yielded by the leaf—This part of the plant, 
though it withers away, and seems of little consequence when 
the corn is ripe, is yet of vital importance during its growth, and 
therefore demands our attentive consideration. 
It yields more ash than the straw, in some cases fully twice as 
much ; and this ash, like that of the straw, varies in quantity with 
the soil, the manure, and the variety of oat. 
The following table gives the per-centage of ash and of water, 
in six samples of leaf. The ash, as usual, is calculated dry. 
Taste XVI. 
: se csiiaengigaaeslie rai 
| jHopeton Oats.) Dun j Sandy] Potato Onts. {Mean of 
| No. 1. No: 2, | Oats. tate. No, |. | No. 2. trials. 
Of Water,. ~. . .  .« | 908} 9:57 | 10-11) 10-95] 10-33) 11-02) 10-14 
OfFAsh, . . .  . + | 719} 844 | 10-29} 14-79! 14-59} 20-90| 12:70 
. 
In this table the differences are much greater than those which 
appeared in the straw. The leaf from the potato oat No. 2, has 
