265 
conditions of soil and climate, it should be as useful as 
Passi flora fcetida in smothering other more harmful weeds, 
especially coarse grasses. The following analysis shows 
its chemical composition : — 
Per Cent. 
Moisture lost on air drying* . . . . 85*56 
Organic matter, asli, &c . . 14*44 
Composition of Air-Dried Plants. 
Per Cent. 
Moisture . . . . H-00 
Organic matter* . . 81*44 
Ash 7 *56 
100*00 
* Containing nitrogen 2*35 per cent. 
The ash contains of the more important constituents: — 
Per Cent. Per Cent. 
Dime .. .. 8*20 Soda .. .. 5*03 
Magnesia . . . . 7*04 Phosphoric acid . . 4.60 
Potash .. .. 42*77 . • 
Mikania scandens thus differs considerably from'" '«e 
Pa&sifiora ford l da in containing only about c^e-fourth of 
the lime, and two and a half times as much potash. It 
would, therefore, while growing tend to compete more with 
the rubber, which also requires much potash, but this would 
be returned to the soil as the plant decayed. In rubber it 
should not be planted within 4 feet of the stems, and care 
should be taken that it spreads over the intervening space, 
and not be allowed to climb the trees themselves. 
The weight of green material per acre is variable, but 
is very similar to that of Passiflora foetid a, and would re- 
present the following amounts of plant food removed from 
the soil per acre, but returned again on the decay of the 
plants : — 
88*93 lb. nitrogen 
286*10 lb. ash 
containing — 
23*46 lb. lime 
20*14 3 b. magnesia 
132*36 lb. potash 
14*32 lb. soda 
13*10 lb. phosphoric acid 
