OF SEVERAL JAPANESE FERTILIZERS. 
29 
Potash. 
Per mille, fresh suhst. 
In 100 p. of nsh. 
38.44 
Soda. 
0.19 
1.90 
Lime . 
. 2.38 
24.28 
Magnesia. 
. 0.86 
8.84 
Ferric oxide. 
... 0.22 
2,25 
Phosphoric acid .. 
. 0.90 
9.19 
Sulphuric acid. 
. 0.21 
2.10 
Silica and sand .. 
. 0.75 
7.63 
Chlorine . 
0.59 
6.06 
As the Astragalus belongs to the papilionaceæ, the 
majority of the nitrogen found in it must have been as¬ 
similated in the form of free nitrogen, and the field must 
have consequently become richer in this valuable nutrient 
than it would have been without the growth of this 
plant. The utilization of the Astragalus as a green 
manure for paddy rice deserves to be strongly recommended, 
as a good supply of nitrogen to the crop very materially 
increases the yield. Hence attempts should be made to 
raise the plant from seeds in all places where no attention 
has hitherto been paid to it by the farmers. In all cases, 
whether it'is already indigenous or newly introduced by 
seeds, the Astragalus should not be left without manure, for 
which purpose wood ashes and phosphates are particularly 
suited. The manure thus given is not lost but partly 
remains in the soil, partly passes into the plant which would 
thus be enabled to thrive vigorously and to take up more 
free nitrogen than it could do without a supply of its 
essential mineral nutrients. 
XIII. Sea Weeds (Laminaria Japonicah 
These sea weeds are largely collected especially on the 
northern shores and serve partly as human food, partly as 
