332 Prof. Norton on the Analysis of the Oat. 
Nos. J and 2, from Mr. Vans Agnew, were the first crop, after 
This result is a most surprising one, and although I have repeated 
my trials, I feel that it needs still further confirmation. The crop 
being after old grass, the land must have been in good condition, 
and therefore would mature a crop even without the addition of 
guano, though that manure undoubtedly increased the yield upon 
the part to which it was applied. It is possible that on such a 
good soil with a healthy plant, the more slow growth and matur- 
ing of a less luxuriant crop than that to which guano was added, 
ve been more favorable to the largest possible amount of 
nitrogenous com ds; so that, while the seed was less in 
quantity, it should be richer in quality. The opinion somewhat 
evalent among farmers, that guano turnips or potatoes are less 
nutritious than others, seems to countenance this view. : 
The Potato oat, No. 2, was also from a very fine crop, as was 
= American imperial oat, which was remarkable for its weight. 
The three samples of Hopeton oats were all from rather inferior 
soils, and poor crops. 
t even if we take the lowest per-centage of protein com- 
pounds, they amount to 4 per cent. more than is stated to be the 
average quantity in wheat. 'The mean may, probably, be safely 
taken as 16 or 17 per cent. | . 
Before concluding the organic part of the grain, I wish to give 
some account of the organic part of the husk, and afterwards 
some determinations in which the two parts are united. 
I did not make a complete analysis of the proximate principles 
of the husk, but determined the oil and sugar only, by boiling in 
alcohol and ether, as described under the analysis of the grain. 
The following table gives the results in two samples of husks 
calculated dry :— 
Taste XXXVIII. 
| —Hlopeton Oats, Potato Oats, Park End, 
: n 
Hexham, Northumberland. Northumberland. 
OF oil) ).°< d . ‘ 
Of sugar and gum, . : Z 0-47 0-75 
acne aera RRR eee ore et OR FE Om Ne 
Besides these substances, there was a considerable quantity of 
some nitrogenous compound left undissolved by water, some- 
