354 



EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS — llEPORT FOR 1880. 



bility of the phosphate is increased, the proportion of phosphoric 

 acid in the grain diminishes. Considering the larger yield of 

 grain obtained on the plots with the dissolved phosphates, the 

 total phosphoric acid per acre abstracted from the soil is no doubt 

 greater on these plots, but the individual grains are poorer in 

 phosphoric acid than those grown with undissolved phosphates. 



In other words, there is a certain amount of economy in using 

 dissolved phosphates ; we get more grain for our phosphates in 

 that w^ay than when we apply them undissolved. But, on the 

 other hand, we obtain a grain which, though it may look as 

 well as the other, is poorer as a feeding material, and has 

 a smaller manurial value, and, wdiat is also important to re- 

 member, is less suited for seed. For the purpose of seed we 

 should select grain whose ash is rich in phosphoric acid, for such 

 grain contains within it the largest store of nourishment for the 

 young plant. Phosphorus is always closely associated with 

 albuminoid matter, and that is what the young plant feeds on. 

 So also we should select seed that is rich in potash, for it also 

 is essential to the young plant. It is found associated with 

 starchy matter, and that is the other great constituent of the 

 food of a plant in its young state. It will also be noticed that 

 there is a kind of balance kept up between potash and silica ; 

 barley which is rich in potash is poor in silica, and the con- 

 verse, so that in this respect also, barley seed which is richer in 

 potash is to be preferred. 



Regarding the other plots on the station, there is little to add 

 to the former report. As an indication of the character of the 

 soil of this station, it may be interesting to refer to the crops 

 grown on the six odd plots, 11 and 12, 17 and 18, 21 and 22. 



Plot 21, w^hich received no potash, but only its due proportion 

 of phosphates and nitrogen, yielded a full crop, showing that 

 there is no want of potash in the soil. On the other hand, plot 

 22, which got no phosphates or nitrogenous manure, but only 

 potash, was a miserable failure, not only with the barley crop, 

 iDut also with the turnip crop that preceded it. The want of 



