THE BATTLE OF LIFE. 107 
-ereased, while miscellaneous plants, especially Achillea 
Millefolium and Rumex Acetosa, have increased. 
The increase of Festuca ovina is probably not so much 
due to any favoring effect of the manure as to the en- 
feeblement of its competitors, Anthoxanthum odoratum 
has increased, but almost all the other grasses have 
diminished... Ranunculacew, Composite, especially Achit- 
dea, have increased since the disuse of potash. Umbel- 
lifers, Plantago lanceolata, and Rumex Acetosa have 
‘decreased. 
On the plot where ammonia is added to mineral ma- 
nures, but where potash is omitted, the grasses show a 
large per-centage from the effect of the ammonia ; the 
leguminous plants are almost banished, owing to the 
combination of unfavorable circumstances, 7. ¢., the 
presence of ammonia and the absence of potash. Ranun- 
.culacess are diminishing, as are also Umbellifere, Com- 
posites, Plantago lanceolata, and Rumex Acetosa. 
As a general rule, it is recognized that the growth of 
plants is checked if the quantity of potash be reduced 
-beyond a certain limit. Dehérain has recently shown 
that in the case of the buckwheat, starch is not gener- 
ated from chlorophyll unless potash be present. If potash 
be added, then starch begins to be formed. Neither 
sodium nor lithium can usefully replace potash, though 
extremely little is known as to the functions of the lat- 
ter. Salts of potash and magnesia have also a general 
tendency to augment the weight of leaves, while chloride 
of sodium favors the development of stem. 
Substitution of Mixed Mineral Manures for Ammo- 
nia.—The consequences of the disuse of ammonia, and. 
the employment in its stead of mineral manures, are 
shown in diminished produce, the grasses having been 
diminished, the leguminous and the miscellaneous plants 
increasing in number and proportion... Festuca ovina 
