Chemical Composition of Plants. 



377 



original seeds, whereas the same seeds sent to Oregon, parts 

 of California and North Carolina exhibited a tendency to pro- 

 duce crops in which the percentage of protein matter was 

 decidedly lower than the original. "Of the 44 wheats from 

 Colorado grown during two years only one fell below 11*5 per 

 cent, of albuminoids, and only six below 12 per cent. Only 

 two of this number weighed less than four grams per 100 grains. 

 In North Carolina, on the contrary, 22 of whose wheats were 

 analysed, only two exceeded 12 per cent, of albuminoids, while 

 the weight of 100 grains averaged only as high as 3776 grams. 

 In Oregon another phase is presented. . . . Out of eight wheats 

 which were analysed by us none contained more than 9*47 per 

 cent, of albuminoids or weighed less than 4*253 grams per 100 

 grains. In Virginia a stunted wheat was found weighing only 

 I '%3° grams per 100 grains, and yet having 14 per cent, of 

 albuminoids." 



(3) The third source of variation is the meteorological con- 

 ditions, including the effects of the seasons and climate under 

 which the crop is grown, and it is to this influence that Dr. Wiley 

 is inclined to attach the greatest importance. After making due 

 allowance for the fact that the experiments of a single season 

 are not to be taken as final, he considers that there is a marked 

 relation between the contents of protein matter and starch, and 

 the length of the growing season. " It is evident that in coun- 

 tries where the period of growth is prolonged, as in the case 

 of certain parts of the Pacific coast, and in the southern part 

 of the country, there would be a tendency to increase the 

 amount of starch in the grain at the expense of the nitrogen, 

 while in regions of short growth, such as Minnesota, the Dakotas, 

 Colorado, and the other northern latitudes where wheat is 

 planted in the spring, there would be a tendency to increase 

 the protein at the expense of the starch." 



Under these circumstances Dr. Wiley suggests that in regions 

 where it is possible spring wheats should be sown, and advocates 

 the use of appliances, such as irrigation, fertilization, &c, which 

 might tend to increase the nitrogenous matter by which wheat 

 is as a rule rendered more valuable. 



But in order that this result should not be effected entirely 

 at the expense of the starch, he quotes an observation of Mr. 



