70 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
In the following table these results are restated in the order of 
excellence, i. e. of the amount of dry substance harvested. 
op Chemicals sed Coapemtt ate 
9 Nitrate of potash and phosphate of potash. . . 17.515 
5 Nitrate of potash . . +e ae 15.740 
10 Nitrate of lime and phosphate of potash ofa 13.295 
16 Nitrate of lime, chloride of potassium, phosphate f 10.840 
of potash, and sulphate of magnesia . 7 
11 Nitrate of potash and sulphate of magnesia . . 10.750 
14 carters of lime, phosphate of potash, and sul- 9.700 
phate of magnesia. . 
15 iy of lime, ae ‘of potash, ‘and a ml 9.085 
phate of lime . ‘ 
6 Nitrate.of lime... .. 3 3 Use ese 7.650 
7 Nitrate of ammonia.) .j )..). s 5.) eae _ 6.720 
3 Chloride of potassium . ; 4.540 . 
13 Phosphate of potash and sulphate ‘of magnesia , 8.950 
4 Phosphate of potash . . = 3 (\yaPaee 3.080 
2 Sulphate of hima: .... ..f..4 5 sk eee 1.970 
1 Sulphate of magnesia. . ~ hs ae 1.800 
12 Phosphate of ee and sulphate ‘of lime chor aie! 1.270 -; 
8 Rain-water . ieheag 0.815 
It will be seen, from the foregoing, that the results obtained by 
growing rye and Indian corn in coal-ashes confirm those obtained in 
the experiments made with buckwheat. They indicate that the ashes 
contain appreciable quantities of potash and phosphoric acid in a 
condition accessible to plants that are duly supplied with moisture 
and nitrogenous manure. Like the experiments in Series D, they 
show, moreover, that the sample of ashes employed for the experi- 
ments of 1873 contained or produced a trace of some assimilable 
- 
nitrogen compound. 
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ASHES USED. 
It remained to be seen whether the potash and phosphoric acid in 
the coal-ashes used were actually less in amount than in the pit-sand, 
or perhaps more firmly held and better able to resist the solvent 
forces through whose agency plants obtain their food. To this end 
the two substances were tested as follows : — 
By Analysis tt BE that, 
Coal-ashes such as were Pit-sand such as was 
Contained of used in Series D. used in Series D, 
Per cent. Per cent. 
Phosphoric acid 0.050 0.035 
Potash 1.470 0.887 
’ 
