FORMATION OF A SPAR AGIN F IN PLANTS. 411 



Plants in 



Original plants Control plants Ammonium UreaO Sodium 



(Nov. 7) (Nov. 13) phosphate nitrate 



Asparagine nitrogen 0.38 0.40 0.62 1.18 0.72 



Asparagine 1.76 1.91 2.90 5.55 3.35 



It is to be remarked in this case that urea, which might have 

 been transformed into ammonium carbonate in the plants, was 

 much more favourable than sodium nitrate for asparagine pro- 

 duction, while the ammonium phosphate was less favourable than 

 sodium nitrate. 



III. Experiments with " sendan " {Mclia Japoiiica). 



The young branches of this plant were put into flasks con- 

 taining about 250°- c - of the following solutions : — 



a, o.\ % solution of ammonium chloride. 



b, ,, ,, ,, ammonium phosphate. 



c, 0.2% ,, ,, sodium nitrate. 



d, distilled water 



and kept in the glass house for 6 days (Nov. 7 — Nov. 13V*' 

 Temperature : — Min. 8°C. ; Max. 35°C. 



After drying, the leaves and 20 c,m ' of the upper parts of the 

 stems were analyzed. 



Table III : — In 100 parts of dry matter : 



Plants in 



Original plants Control plants Ammonium Ammonium Sodium 



chloride phosphate nitrate 

 Asparagine nitrogen 0.11 0.13 037 0.29 027 

 Asparagine 0.52 0.59 1.76 1.38 1.25 



IV. Experiments with squash (Cucurbila mclo pcppii). 

 Squash seeds were distributed in three large pots containing 



sea sand washed first with hydrochloric acid, then with common 

 soft water ; the pots were kept in the glass house, in which the 

 temperature ranged from 22°C. to 44°C. Four days after sowing, 

 the germination had fairly set in, and when 3 cm " high, the shoots of 

 one pot were treated with O.05 % solution of ammonium nitrate, 



(1) The nourishing solutions did not show any development of bacteria ; the plants 

 remained healthy. About ] / 8 of the total urea of the solution was here transformed 

 into asparagine. 



(2) At the end of the experiments the plants began to suffer, the temperature having 

 been too high. 



