424 



SUZUKI ; 



It is seen from the above tables that the decrease of aspara- 

 gine and the transformation of nitrates are enhanced when sugar 

 is offered, and that on the other hand, an increase of albuminoid 

 nitrogen takes place, as was to be expected. (,) 



X. Experiments with wheat {Triticum sativum). 



Young plants 6-io cm high, were irrigated on the field with 

 the following solutions : — 



a. o.\% solution of ammonium phosphate. 



b. 0.2% ,, ,, sodium nitrate. 



Time of experiments : — 24 days (Nov. 7th — Dec. 1st). 



The temperature was sometimes very cold and fell to 

 3°C. Total solutions added = about iooo 00- in both cases, (two 

 times irrigated). Rainfall occurred three times during the 

 experiments. 



Table XXII. In 100 parts of dry matter. 



Plants treated with 



Control plants Ammonium phosphate Sodium nitrate 

 Asparagine nitrogen 0.32 0.42 0.47 



Asparagine 1. 51 1.97 2.21 



Here no noticeable quantity of asparagine accumulated, 

 very probably because all the conditions for a rapid formation of 

 proteids were favourable. 



Second experiments with wheat. 



Young plants l5-20 r - m - high, grown on the same farm, were 

 carefully removed, washed, and cultured in the glass house in 

 glass cylinders, containing : — 



a. 5oo e ' 0, of 0.1% solution of urea. 



b. ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ammonium chloride. 



c. ,, ,, 0.05% ,, ,, ammonium carbonate. 



d. ,, ,, 0.2% ,, ,, sodium nitrate. 



e. distilled water. 



Duration of experiment : — 11 days (Feb. 3rd— 14th). 

 Temperature : — Min. 2°C. ; Max. 35°C. 



(1) Note on the assimilation of nitrates : — According to Treub the first product of 

 assimilation of nitrates in the leaves of Pangium edule, (a tree of Java), is prussic acid. 

 (Cf. Chem. Zeitg. Feb. 1896). In my numerous experiments, however, on the assimila- 

 tion of nitrates, the transformation of nitrates to ammonia, asparagine, or proteids, so 

 quickly proceeded that it was impossible to discover any intermediate product between 

 nitric acid and ammonia. 



