552 MR. J. B. LAWES, DR. GILBERT, AND DR. PUGH ON 
No. 5.—Beans (1857); two seeds; prepared pumice ; without nitrogenous manure. 
June 9.—One plant 1} inch high, blackened, and dying; the other smaller and 
already dead. 
As will be seen by the records (p. 557), Beans Nos. 10 & 11 showed equally unhealthy 
growth; all were therefore removed and re-planted. It was obvious that the failure 
was too early to be due to want of available nitrogen; especially, as No. 4 Beans with a 
similar amount of nitrogen lived. ‘The result was considered to be due to the caus- 
ticity of the ash, as beans set in ash-free soil and pumice flourished much longer, and in 
the case of No. 4 the seeds happened to be so placed as to be washed when water was 
applied. 
It was found on examination that all showed signs of recommencement of growth; new 
roots and stems were forming. The seeds, &c. were removed; a little sulphuric acid added 
to the soil (or pumice) to neutralize the ash, and it was then ignited as originally, put into 
fresh red-hot pots, and cooled and moistened over sulphuric acid. Before putting in 
fresh seeds, holes were made for them in the soil, and water poured in to remove soluble 
matter from the neighbourhood of the young rootlets. The experiments were then 
continued as before. 
Report of No. 5 Beans continued. 
June 24.—One plant just up. 
July 1.—An accident occurred to this experiment. A fresh pot of soil, prepared 
precisely as above, was planted with beans that had been set in small glass tubes ready 
for any contingency, and the experiment continued. 
July 4.—One plant, leaves just opening. 
July 11.—Still only one plant up, and it looks very unhealthy. 
July 22.—One plant, obviously dying. 
July 29.—Dead. 
No. 6.—Wheat (1857); three seeds; prepared soil; with nitrogenous manure. 
(See Plate XV. fig. 7.) 
June 9.—Two plants up; one 24, the other 4} inches high; three leaves each. Tips 
of leaves slightly yellower than those of Wheat No. 1. 
June 10.—A pipette-ful of the solution of sulphate of ammonia (='00578 gramme N.) 
added to the soil. 
June 15.—Two plants; green and vigorous; marked improvement since the addition 
of ammonia-salt; the leaves wider and of a deeper green. ‘Three leaves each plant. 
June 24.—Two plants; 7 inches high; four or five leaves each ; lower ones dried up, 
upper ones deeper green than Wheats No. 1. 
July 4.—Two plants; 9 inches high; six leaves each; lower ones yellow, upper ones 
broad, long, and of a healthy deep green; but the vigour due to the first addition of 
