1166 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
VoL XXXI, No. 12 
METHODS 
The sunflowers were planted in rows 42 inches apart, the systems 
of planting differing in the distances apart (8 inches and 24 inches) in 
the row, and the number -of plants (1, 2, 3, and 4) in the hill. The 
plants were collected and analyzed at five stages of growth. 
STAGES SELECTED 
The stages of maturity selected were as follows: First, when the 
bud was appearing on the top of the plant; second, when the first 
flower was about 3 inches in diameter but no seed had developed; 
third, just before the seeds of the first flower were in the dough stage; 
fourth, when the seeds of the first flower were well in the dough stage 
and the rays were just beginning to fall; fifth, when the seeds of the 
first flower were quite hard and its rays had fallen. 
' METHOD OF SAMPLING 
Ten representative plants were collected, weighed, and measured, 
and then composited after cutting in a small silage cutter and mixing 
thoroughly. After complete desiccation, 250 grams were weighed out 
and carefully ashed. To prevent volatilization of the chlorides during 
ashing, the usual precautions were taken, that of leaching the residue 
after charring, then evaporating the leachings to a small volume, and 
incorporating this with the residue after burning the residue thor¬ 
oughly in an electric muffle. 
This residue is called the crude ash. Pure ash was obtained by dis¬ 
solving the crude ash with hot dilute hydrochloric acid and filtering. 
The residue was again treated in the same manner and the filtrates 
combined and made up to a definite volume. Analyses of the pure 
ash were made in accordance with the methods outlined by the 
Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 6 In addition, total 
sulphur was determined on the finely ground unbumed anhydrous 
material using the Parr Bomb method in contrast to the inorganic 
sulphur in the pure ash which was determined by the usual A. O. A. C. 
methods. 
RESULTS 
Table II contains data on the size and weight of stalks, the yield 
per acre, and the percentage of crude and pure ash for all the systems 
of plantings. 
Table III contains data showing the mineral content of the ash of 
sunflowers expressed as percentage of the pure ash and also as per¬ 
centage of anhydrous material for all systems of plantings and for all 
stages harvested. 
8 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, official and tentative methods of analysis. 
AS COMPILED BY THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF METHODS. REVISED TO NOV. 1, 1919. 417 p., illllS. Wash¬ 
ington, D. C. 1920, 
