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be able to apply it properly. If we make use of an abundance of ara- 

 mouiacal manures, the stem and leaves of the wheat plant will become 

 so large and succulent that the roots will not be able to support them, 

 and they will fall down and fail to produce a crop ; we must try and 

 remedy this evil by making use of a manure that will give strength to 

 the stem, and vigor and size to the grain or fruit. 



We see by various analyses that silica predominates in the straw of 

 wheat, and that potash and phosphoric acid exist in very large quan- 

 tities in the grain, and a certain portion of lime both in the straw and 

 grain; let us shape our course accordingly; let us give back the soluble 

 silica to the soil, by returning the straw, as an ingredient in well man- 

 aged barn-yard dung. The farmer who sells his straw may think ho is 

 doing a very good thing ; but he should be informed that he is thereby 

 impoverishing his laud by robbrng it of the soluble silica, which is neces- 

 sary to build up the straw of his grain crops. 



Wood ashes contain a large proportion of potash and consequently 

 are an excellent manure for wheat or any other crop in which potash 

 exists. 



Bones abound in phosphoric acid, a substance which forms a consid- 

 erable portion of the grain of wheat. Bones should be collected and 

 applied as a top dressing for this crop ; bone dust is a valuable manure. 



Common salt is a sood manure and becomes doubly valuable when 

 mixed with barn-yard-dung, guano or gypsum. Salt increases the 

 strength of the stem, and the size and health of the grain. 



Lime imparts health and vigor to the stem and grain, and a certain 

 portion of it should be applied to land intended for wheat. It assists 

 in dissolving the silicates and phosphates, counteracts the etiects of cer- 

 tain acids, and in various w^ays promotes the growth of the wheat 

 plant. Great quantities of lime are annually made use of by European 

 farmers; it is to be regretted that so little of it is used by American 

 farmers. 



Guano has been applied with very good effect as a top dressing, it is 

 a powerful amraoniacal manure. 



Plaster is considered a good manure for wheat especially when mixed 

 with salt. Some farmers complain that plaster causes their wheat to 

 remain too long in ripening, and also to fall down, or become "laid"; 

 an early application of plaster will remedy the first, whilst the addi- 

 tion of salt will prevent the latter tendency. 



