284 EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS — EEPOET FOR 1879. 



were not fit for cutting till about three weeks thereafter. As 

 regards the order of ripening it was noticed that the plots 2, 4^ 

 6, 8, and 10, which had received dissolved phosphates, took the 

 lead of all the rest and were cut in the order stated. After 

 them came the other phosphate plots 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 ; then 

 came 26, and by the time it was cut all the plots, except 1 2 and 

 18, were ready for the sickle. So gradually did the various 

 plots mature that two men were able to perform the whole 

 operation with the sickle. Plots 12 and 18 were so backward 

 that they had to remain standing several days after all the others 

 were cut down. Fortunately excellent weather set in during 

 Septemljer and October so that the whole crop was got in in very 

 good condition. The crop of each plot was stacked on its own 

 ground, and after remaining so for a few weeks the various crops 

 were carried off the ground and thrashed in regular order. 



Before giving in detail the results of the cropping, a few 

 observations taken from time to time during the growing season 

 should first he noticed. 



The plots with dissolved phosphates were the most forward 

 in brairding, and kept the lead during the whole season. The 

 best coloured and most vigorous were plots 8 and 10. Plots 12,. 

 18, and 20 were the most backw^ard on the station. Plot 18 

 improved later on, and was remarkable for the darkness of the- 

 OTcen colour of its leaf. Plot 13 looked better than 14 during 

 the earlier period of the season, and plots 15 and 16 remamed 

 very equal until about the end of July, when the latter gradually 

 gained ground. Plots 19 and 20 were pretty equal, but the 

 former tillered better and looked bulkier though not so tall in 

 the straw as the other. At the end of the season the straw on 

 plot 20 seemed more shapely, and was remarkable for the length 

 of neck between the short blade and the ear. Of the g^^ano 

 plots 23 took the lead and kept it for a long time, but at the 

 end of the -season plot 26 looked just about as well. Plot 24 

 was all along very backward. The unmanured plot was always 

 a poor one, but not so bare as 12 and 18. Plot 29 was markedly 

 the best of the superphosphates during the first half of the 

 season, but latterly plot 30 approached it very closely. The 

 plots with various quantities of manure shewed the difference 

 between the lightly and heavily manured half distinctly from 

 the first, the latter being much the best. Plot 35 was a poor 

 one, and plots 39 and 40 looked about the poorest on the station- 

 It was noticed that on the dissolved phosphate plots the land 

 was much cleaner than on the others, the more -sdgorous growth 

 of tlie crops on these plots tending to discourage the growth of 

 weeds. 



The following table exhibits the results obtained when the 

 crops were thrashed out in the month of November : — 



