BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 53 
inches high remained wellnigh stationary; what little growth there 
was at the top being for the most part supported by the transfer of 
matter originally contained in the lower leaves. On April 30, when 
the plants in this crowded pot were white and almost completely 
dead, a dilute solution of nitrate of lime was substituted for the rain- 
water which the plant had previously received, and this special pot 
was thenceforth wateted solely with the nitrate solution. All but 
two of the dying plants slowly recovered under this treatment. In 
a fortnight they had become thrifty, in three weeks’ time they were 
vigorous, and by the end of May they exhibited a luxuriant growth. 
Eight plants were harvested in August, each two feet tall and bear 
ing good-sized ears filled with mature grain. The weight of the crop 
dried at 100° C. was 13.778 grammes.* 
By analysis, these plants were found to contain, grain and straw 
together, 7.98 per cent of ashes, and the ashes contained, — 
; 24.09 per cent of silica, 
10.67 ce lime, 
5.41 Md magnesia, 
1.12 - potash, 
4,08 Z phosphoric acid, 
1.44 a sulphuric acid, 
besides other things not determined. 
A somewhat similar experiment was tried with the five oat-plants 
of Series A, and, although the plants had been left to starve until 
their lower portions had become so hard and callous, before the 
attempt to save them was made, that they were almost useless, three 
of the plants slowly revived under the influence of a dilute solution 
of nitrate of soda, and finally came to maturity. Soon after the 
nitrate began to be used the white stalks and leaves of the oat-plants - 
became green, and when harvested the plants were seventeen inches 
high, and each of them bore five or six seeds. 
These preliminary trials indicated very clearly that, whatever else 
the coal-ashes under examination might lack, the first thing to be 
added to them was a supply of nitrogen. Hence the following series 
* The five barley-plants of Series A, grown in coal-ashes at the same time as the 
above, in a similar earthen pot, and under like conditions, excepting that they 
were watered with rain-water alone, yielded only 0.4051 grammes of total crop, 
dried at 100°. ° 
