— 25 — 
richei in amides than the first cutting, which is still the case 
it we reject analysis No. 3, which seems abnormally high 
and tor which we have no explanation to offer; also, that 
the amides attain their maximum in the whole plant at 
about the time of half bloom. It may here be remarked 
that the flowers, an analysis of which will be given later, are 
a so cjuite 1 ich 111 these amide compounds, and their abund¬ 
ance at the time of half bloom may determine the time of 
the maximum amount of amides. d here is not the same 
fluctuation in our results as is shown in those of Mr. Har¬ 
rington ; they agree in showing a disappearance of’these 
compounds as the plant begins to go out of bloom. 
NITROGEN AS NITRIC ACID. 
The well-known effect of alfalfa hay, particularly new 
hay, upon horses and the detection of large quantities of 
potassic nitrate in cornstalks grown under peculiarlv favor- 
able conditions, suggested the possibility of the occurrence 
of nitric nitrogen in this rapidly growing plant. The 
albuminoidal nitrogen was determined according to Stut- 
? me .thod, the filtrate rendered alkaline and subjected to 
distillation until ammonia ceased to be given off. The 
residue was acidified with sulphuric acid,run in from a grad- 
uate, and the nitric acid reduced by nascent hydrogen with 
the usual precautions, and after complete reduction, ren¬ 
dered alkaline again and distilled. The average of the re¬ 
sults thus obtained gave us exactly the average of the 
blanks made with our reagents by Kjeldahbs method. The 
number of tests made was eignteen, and the nitric nitrogen 
was absent or present in exceedingly minute quantities. 
1 he roots were not tested for nitric nitrogen, but as the 
amids are present in them in rather large quantities, it is 
doubtful whether they contain more nitric nitrogen than 
the rest of the plant. 
THE PLANT. 
The preceding paragraphs have dealt with the whole 
plant as represented in hay, including leaves, flowers, and 
stems. The laboratory samples were prepared in such a 
manner as to preserve all the plant, and they consequently 
preserve the natural ratio of the different parts of the plant, 
which is not true of field-cured hay. In the succeeding 
paragraphs is given the composition of the separate parts 
of the plant, i. e., stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots. 
STEMS AND LEAVES. 
Reference has already been made to the size which 
these attain, the diameter of 300 stems giving an average of 
nearly .17 of an inch, and they attain a hight of five^and 
