On the Relative Value of Asparagine as a Nutrient 
for Phaenogams. 
BY 
T. Nakamura, Nögakushi. 
It has repeatedly been shown that asparagine and other 
amido-compounds applied to roots of plants are assimilated and 
can serve as valuable sources of nitrogen. But quantitative 
comparisons have not yet been carried out, which would no 
doubt be of great value ; above all it appeared desirable to 
compare the relative value of asparagine as a source of nitrogen 
with those of other closely related compounds. I made several 
experiments to obtain some light in this direction. 
In my first experiment I compared the action of asparagine 
with ammonium succinate upon young barley plants, which were 
measured from the base of the stem to the tip of the plumula at 
different intervals. The solutions were prepared by mixing 
solutions of asparagine and of ammonium succinate with equal 
volumes of a saturated solution of gypsum. 
After- five days, the plants were placed for one day in an¬ 
other solution containing mono-potassium phosphate and magne¬ 
sium sulphate (o. i % of each). (1) 
Twenty four plants were placed in narrow beakers containing 
200 c.c. of these solutions and kept at a temperature of 12 0 —20°C. 
After four days, the plants in ammonium succinate solution com¬ 
menced to show a yellow colouration on the tips and this colour¬ 
ation increased gradually so that on the tenth day all the leaves 
had turned yellow, but they were still alive as the full turgor was 
still preserved. 
On the other hand, the plants in asparagine solution had 
remained green up to this time. The great difference in growth 
after nine days is seen from the following table : 
(i) This separation of solutions is necessary to prevent bacterial growth, or to resist 
it as much as possible. 
