p.14

14

Lielig has ascerted that as the organic nutrients of plants (air & water) is everywhere the same and in equal abundance at the service of all plants the cause of the great difference of vegetation cannot be sought therein, and consequently it must [depend] lie in the inorganic constituents. It follows that those constituents which we are accustomed to dispise and overlook, are exactly those which have the most essential importance in the vegetable world.

The leaves of grasses originate at the nodes, and extend quite around the culm. This is supposed to be the reason why there is such a concentration of matter at these points.

Grasses are annual, or biennial, & produce seed but once, or perennial & produce flowers & seed indefinately. The distinction between an annual & biennial is of no great importance in regard to the nature of the plant. Strictly both are annual-the only difference being that one completes its course within the same year, while the other occupies a portion of two-the autumn of one & the spring of the next. Hence it is not surprising that the same species may be either annual or biennial.