206 



Analyses of Ashes of Plants. 



Importance of producing an early D-ndfull development of the 

 leaf. 



Proportion of ivate?^ in the bulbs and tops very variable. 

 Value of the crop influenced thereby. 



Very small deviation in the per centage of water alters ma- 

 terially the value of the crop va feeding properties. 



Ten tons of one crop may contain as much solid food as twenty 

 tons of another. 



Necessity of ascertaining dry weight of each crop in all com- 

 parative experiments on the growth of roots by artifcial manures. 



Artificial manures may sometimes increase the weight without 

 increasing the value, the excess being water. 



Correction easily made in such experiments. 



Per centage of mineral matter in the bulbs and tops of turnips 

 very variable. 



But on the whole j)lant more constant. 



A given quantity of mineral matter distributed unequally 

 through the bulbs and tops. 



This circumstance regulated by the age of the plants. 



No mineral distinction between turnips, swedes and hybrids. 



The variations in the quantity of ash due to the large proportion 

 of water. 



Greater diversity in composition in the ash of the top than in 

 the bulb. 



Soda appears to replace -potash in the root-crops. 

 Chloride of potassium present in the leaves of the turnip, not in 

 the hxdh. 



Quantity of each ingredient more uniform on the ichole crop than 

 in the tops or huTbs. 



Experiments made upon the grounds of the constancy of compo- 

 sition must be made on the ivhole plant. 



The ash in many old- wurzel quite as variable as in turnips. 



Large quantity of common salt both in tuiiiips and beet — more 

 in the latter. 



More common salt in the leaves than in the bulb. 



Beet and even turnips given alone may from the common salt be 

 prejudicial to lambing ewes and cows. Removed by steaming. 



Ash of the white Belgian carrot very similar to that of turnips. 



Large crops of carrots raised ivithout manure because of their 

 penetrating roots. 



Might be a better /aZ/otc^ crop than turnips. 



Jerusalem artichokes coninin much phosphoric acid and alkalies; 

 and yet grow on poor soil without manure. 



Pea72S and peas contain little silica, either in the grain or straiv. 



The mineral matter of the grain of beans and peas almost iden- 

 . tical. 



