74 



on account of the rax)id and abundant growtli of fungi in the solution 

 when evaporation of the solvent at ordinaiy temperatures Avas 

 attempted. The solutions of the material failed to give any reactions 

 b}^ which it could be identified as one of the simpler and better-known 

 organic acids. For these reasons efforts to identify it were abandoned 

 temporarily and further work on it postponed until a time when a 

 larger amount of the material could be obtained. It is confidently 

 believed tliat the experience thus far gained will insure a successful 

 issue to the next attempt in this direction. 



HYDROSCOPIC SALT ON THE PLANT SURFACE. 



The analytical results would indicate that calcium chloride as such 

 was on the grass, but if present; no signs of it were observed on the 

 air-dried material. The samples were all thoroughly dry and not the 

 least evidence of au}^ deliquescent substance on the surface Avas 

 apparent. It should be remembered, however, that the eA'idenee 

 obtained in the examination of the organic acid indicated that the 

 calciuui salt Avas much less soluble than the sodium or potassium salt. 

 In all probability the greater part of the calcium in combination in 

 the solid phase and not in the form of calcium sulphate Avas i^resent 

 as the calcium salt of the organic acid; and the greater part of the 

 sodium Avhich Avas assumed above to be in combination AA^th tlie 

 organic acid Avas in reality in combination Avith the chlorine, Avliieh 

 the analysis as stated assumes to be combined Avith calcium. 



On the other hand, it has l^een noticed that this grass Avhen groAv- 

 ing in the field ,is frequently coA^ered AAith a moist, stick}^ substance, 

 which there is reason to believe is caused l^y moisture absorbed from 

 the air by the salts, but onlj^ iji sufficient quantity to partially dis- 

 solve them, making a i^aste or gummy mixture. So that it is not so 

 improbable that calcium chloride is sometimes formed and is to be 

 found as sucli on the liAdng plant. 



SELECTIA^E ABSORPTION OF SOIL CONSTITUENTS. 



Another point brought out A^ery strikingly by an examination of the 

 analyses is the relatiA^ely large amounts of both calcium and potassium 

 found in the leachings from the plants, Avhen the proportion of these 

 elements in the Avater-soluble portion of the soil is considered. These 

 facts might possibly find an explanation in x>art in the lesser solu- 

 bility of the calcium and i)otassium salts of the organic acid and the 

 accumulation of such salts formed by contact of dust from the soil 

 with the acid. But such reasoning does not afford an explanation of 

 the enormously increased ratio between the chlor ions and the sulph 

 ions found in the plant leachings as compared Avith the ratio of these 

 substances in the soil. The relative absorptive poAvers of the plant 

 for these various constituents are probably the controlling factors. 



