423
three plants on each of the pots No. 1. and 3, and only two onNo. 2, the two last sprung plants on the former were carefullytaken up, and planted on the new flower-pot, which was markedNo. 5.
May Uth . The plants on No. 1,2, 3, 4, seemed to be near-ly as thriving as they would have been on any other soil. Thoseon No. 1. were the most vigorous, having the most numerousand broadest leaves ; those on No. 2. were the most forward,but the shoots and leaves less numerous and narrower than thoseof No. 1. and 3. ; those on No. 3. appeared not greatly inferiorto No. 1. ; on No. 4. there were a good many shoots, but theleaves narrower ; the plants on No. o. had* made a very smalladvance, and were much behind all the rest. All the pots werenow packed up, in order to be carried to a considerable distance,
June 10//;. After a tedious transportation, the flower-potswere unpacked. No. 4. and 5. were broken, the contents scatter-ed and mixed, and the plants destroyed, so that all investigationw ith regard to them was over. No. 1, 2, 3, were again exposedto the open air, and watered when the weather was dry.
July Mth. The plants had continued to advance in growthand the ear appeared on all of them; but those on No. 2. werefarthest advanced, having appeared twelve days before the otherplants. The others, however, exceeded in the number andplumpness of the stalks, leaves, and ears ; and the plants onNo. 1. preserved all along an evident superiority over the others.Being threatened with an attack from the domestic fowls, theputs were now placed in the outside of an upper window, whichunfortunately faced the north-east.
September nth. The plants had been duly watered every se-cond day, and were slowly advancing towards maturity ; butthose on No. 2. were looking dry, and seemed to be prematurelyceasing to vegetate. As they had been excluded from sun andair for 16 of the longest days, lately placed in an unfavourableexposure, and the season now far advanced, it was not expectedthey would become fully ripe, and therefore they were cut downthis day, close by the surface, and weighed as follows.
oz. dr ,
No. 1. had 8 full advanced stalks, from 2 grains, withlarge plump ears, and 9 later or abortive ones,weighing - - - - - - 112
2. had 6 advanced stalks, with short ears and wrin-
kled grain, and one later, weighing - 0 12
3. had 7 advanced stalks, and 3. later ones, and
weighed ...... 1 0
Here it must be observed that the plants No. 1. and 3. weregreen and juicy, and must have weighed heavier on that account.
The roots of the wheat had branched out everywhere through