HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ALDEHYDES IN SOILS. 
11 
Phosphate, — The amount of phosphate, stated as P 2 5 , removed 
from the total number of solutions during the experiment was 395.7 
milligrams for the normal cultures and 344.2 milligrams for the cul- 
tures containing salicylic aldehyde. The salicylic aldehyde cultures 
absorbed 51.5 milligrams of P 2 5 less than the normal cultures. 
Nitrate. — The total amount of nitrate, stated as NH 3 , removed 
from the total number of solutions during the course of the experi- 
ment was 578.3 milligrams for the normal cultures and 454.9 milli- 
grams for the salicylic aldehyde cultures. The salicylic aldehyde 
cultures used 123.4 milligrams less nitrate. 
Potassium. — The amount of potash, stated as K 2 0, absorbed by the 
plants in the total number of cultures was 672.6 milligrams in the 
case of the normal cultures and 533 .2 milligrams for the cultures with 
salicylic aldehyde. As with the phosphate and nitrate, the salicylic 
aldehyde cultures absorbed less potash, there being a difference of 
139.4 milligrams in favor of the normal cultures. 
An examination of the above figures shows a more nearly normal 
absorption of phosphate than of the nitrate or potash under the 
influence of the salicylic aldehyde. This would appear to be in 
harmony with the relatively lessened toxicity of the aldehyde in 
the mainly phosphatic nutrient solutions. 
EFFECT OF CALCIUM CARBONATE ON THE ACTION OF SALICYLIC ALDEHYDE. 
In order to study the effect of salicylic aldehyde under prrysiologi- 
cally alkaline conditions, an experiment was made in nutrient culture 
solutions containing calcium carbonate. The cultures were prepared 
as in the experiments already recorded. The solutions were composed 
of calcium acid phosphate, sodium nitrate, and potassium sulphate 
in different proportions. Salicylic aldehyde was used in quantities 
of 10 parts per million, and 100 milligrams of calcium carbonate were 
added to each culture in the control set and in the salicylic aldehyde 
set. The plants grew from March 23 to April 4, 12 days. The solu- 
tions were changed every three days. The green weights of the 
plants grown in solutions without and with salicylic aldehyde are 
given in the fourth and fifth columns of Table VIII. 
Table VIII. — Effect of salicylic aldehyde in nutrient cultures containing calcium carbonate. 
Composition of nutrient 
solution. 
Without 
salicylic 
aldehyde. 
With 
salicylic 
aldehyde, 
10 parts 
per 
million. 
Composition of nutrient 
solution. 
Without 
salicylic 
aldehyde. 
With 
salicylic 
aldehyde, 
10 parts 
per 
million. 
P 2 5 
NH 3 
K 2 
Green 
weight. 
Green 
weight. 
PjOs 
NH 3 
K 2 
Green 
weight. 
Green 
weight. 
Parts per 
million. 
48 
64 
16 
Parts per 
million. 
16 
8 
48 
Parts per 
million. 
16 
8 
16 
Grams. 
2.85 
2.00 
3.19 
Grams. 
1.95 
1.95 
2.45 
Parts per 
million. 
8 
16 
8 
Parts per 
million. 
64 
16 
8 
Parts per 
million. 
8 
48 
64 
Grams. 
2.70 
3.55 
?60 
Grams. 
2.4.3 
2.55 
2.05 
