12 T. L. Lyon anp J. K. Witson 
in these stages was as follows: first cutting, 0.153 gram; second cutting, 
1.225 grams; third cutting, 2.723 grams; fourth cutting, 2.713 grams. 
With wheat only three harvests were made: the first was thirty-seven 
days after drilling, which took place on September 23; the second was on 
April 22, and no heads were showing at this date; the third was on June 
16, when the plants were thru blooming. The nitrogen in 100 plants 
was as follows: first period, 0.132 gram; second period, 0.596 gram; third 
period, 1.802 grams. No later analyses are given, and thus it is not clear 
whether there was a loss in weight of nitrogen after the blooming period. 
Le Clere and Breazeale (1909) state that the loss of nutrients from 
plants may be explained in one of three ways: (1) by the backward flow 
of the salts of the plant juices thru the stems and roots to the soil; (2) by 
the decay or dying and falling off of leaves; or (8) by the action of rain, 
dew, wind, and other climatic agencies. Or there may be a combination 
of all these causes to a limited extent. In support of the third possibility, 
these investigators conducted experiments designed to imitate these 
climatic agencies. Barley plants were grown in soil contained in Wagner 
pots, and no water was allowed to come in touch with the aboveground 
parts during the growing period. Just at the heading period the whole 
plant was harvested, placed in a large evaporating dish, and soaked with 
water for several minutes. After drying, this operation was repeated. 
The plants were then dried and analyzed. The results show that 1.6 
per cent of the entire content of nitrogen was lost on washing. 
Wheat plants were harvested at three periods of growth — bloom, 
early ripeness, and full ripeness. The plant parts were divided into 
stems and straw, and heads. They were separately washed or soaked 
for from five to ten minutes. The wash water was analyzed, as were 
also the dried stems and straw and the heads. The results show that 
at bloom 1.4 per cent of the nitrogen was washed out, while at full maturity 
7 per cent was found in the wash water. 
Results were obtained also from apple twigs. Two twigs containing 
green leaves were gathered and washed for a few minutes with distilled 
water. They were then set aside, with their butt ends immersed in 
water, until the leaves were unquestionably dead, when they were again 
washed and analyses were made of both washings and residues. The | 
results of the analyses showed that thru the action of water about 3 per | 
cent of nitrogen had been washed out, 
