FORMATION OF ASPAK AGIXE IN PLANTS. 



417 



Table XI : — In 100 parts of dry matter : — 



Plants in 



Original Control Amm. Amm. phosphate Tj rea Urea and 

 plants. plants, phosph. and sugar. ' ' sugar. 



Asparagine nitrogen 0.11 0.15 0.16 0.10 0.23 0.12 



Asparagine 0.51 0.72 0.73 0.48 1. 10 0.55 



In this case it is very evident that the introduction of sugar 

 prevented the increase of asparagine.' 1 ' 



VIII. Experiments with buckwheat plants {Polygonum 

 fagopyrum). 



Experiments were made with buckwheat plants taken from 

 the farm in full blossom and bearing seeds. There was only a 

 trace of asparagine and a moderate amount of nitrate present, 

 but no trace of ammonia. Preliminary experiments showed further 

 that in tin's case, some of the ammonia offered as ammonium 

 nitrate in 0.0^% solution, was found afterwards as such in the 

 stems to the extent of o.iy%' 2) of the air dry matter. 



The plants were now placed in the following solutions : — 



a, 0.1% solution of ammonium nitrate. 



b, 0.1% solution of ammonium chloride. 



c, 0.2% solution of sodium nitrate. 



d, distilled water. 



The plants were kept in the glass house for 9 days (Oct. 

 I2th — 21st.). 



Temperature : — Min. i6°c ; Max. 40°c. 



All the plants were healthy and the solutions remained 

 clear. 



The analysis for which only stems and leaves were used 

 yielded the following results : — 

 Table XII. In IOO parts of the fresh plants: — 



Plants treated with 





Control 

 plants. 



Ammonium - 

 chloride. 



Ammonium 

 nitrate. 



Sodium, 

 nitrate. 



Asparagine nitrogen and 

 nitrogen in ammonia. 



0.05 



0.13 



0.08 



0.06 



j\itrogen in ammonia. 



0 



008 



0.04 



0 



Asparagine nitrogen. 



0.05 



005 



0.04 



0 06 



Asparagine 



0.25 



O 22 



0.18 



0.29 



(1) A small amount of sulphates was found in the leaves which might have been 

 utilized in the production of new proleids from asparagine and sugar. 



(2) Cf. Analytical data in the appendix. 



