224 PEOCEEDINGS OE THE CHEMICAL DEPAETMENT. 



The results of these experiments are particularly interesting. 

 In the first place, muriate of potash as used alone is actually pre- 

 judicial, diminishing the produce by 2 tons ; and it has a similar, 

 though not so decided, an effect when associated with dissolved 

 guano, though along with cropolites it seems to produce a slight 

 increase. Ammonia has no perceptible effect when used along 

 with dissolved coprolites, but has with guano ; and the effect of 

 glue seems to be nearly if not quite as good as that of the ready 

 formed ammonia. 



Experiments made by Mr Bowie, Mains of Kelly. 



The field on which these experiments were made had been 

 repeatedly cropped on the six-course shift. In 1865, the crop 

 was beans, heavily manured with farm-yard rough manure on the 

 stubble in autumn, the wheat receiving only a small dressing of 

 fermented bones ; and as for the last fifty years the field, when 

 in grass, had never been pastured, but always cut for hay, it was 

 sufficiently weak to be suitable for the object in view. The 

 stubble after wheat received a deep autumn furrow, and a similar 

 cross one in the beginning of May previous to raising the drills. 

 The plots were dressed with the special manures according to the 

 instructions on June 13th, and the seed immediately sown. On 

 the 18th and 19th, the seed began to break cover, and the braird 

 was vigorous over all the plots on the 23d. Severe drought 

 prevailed from this time up to the 3d July, on the morning of 

 which day a slight shower fell. There was copious rain during 

 the night, and the weather continuing moist, great progress was 

 made by the crop. On the 14th, rains amounting almost to 

 floods commenced, and continued up to the 19th. On the 

 20th, bitterly cold weather commenced, followed by cold dry 

 winds, and the soil being saturated with moisture, growth was 

 much checked, and on the 30th July appearances on the leaves 

 indicated the approach of disease. On wet and heavy lands 

 this went on to finger-and-toe and other diseases, which in 

 many cases ended in the total failure of the crop. In the field 

 in which the experiments were made finger-and-toe was ob- 

 served in some places, but none of the experimental plots were 

 perceptibly injured by it. All the plots were examined on 29th 

 August. Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 appeared pretty equal. Of 

 these No. 8 seemed best, and 11 inferior to any of the others. 

 No. 12, guano alone, inferior. No. 13, in both sections, slightly 

 improved, but not better than the nothings. Nos. 5 and 6 pre- 

 sented a medium appearance. Nos. 4, 3, 2, and 1, superior, and 

 uniform in each of their sections ; No. 2, however, in sect. 2d, 

 showing most leaf, and ultimately, when weighed, proved heaviest 

 both in roots and tops ; the discrepancy (3£ tons) between it 

 and the same No. in sect. 1, may be accounted for in so wet a 



