190 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



Though all the brands examined are not identical as to strength, there is a fair 

 measure of uniformity throughout the series. We do not consider any of the samples 

 markedly below standard strength save No. 6723, of which, unfortunately, we could 

 not obtain particulars as to brand. 



THE FERTILIZING VALUE OF RAIN AND SNOW. 



Since February, 1907, determinations have been made of the nitrogen compounds 

 in each fall of rain and snow that furnished, on the catchment area used, a sufficient 

 quantity for analysis. From the data so obtained and the precipitation results (rain 

 and snow in inches) we have been enabled to calculate, approximately, the amount of 

 combined nitrogen furnished to the soil, per acre, in the vicinity of Ottawa. 



The first year's results in this investigation (March, 1907, to February, 1908, 

 inclusive) were given in the last annual report of this Division, and it was shown that 

 the total precipitation during that period — 24-05 inches of rain and 133 inches of 

 snow — had furnished per acre, 4-323 lbs. of nitrogen of fertilizing value.* 



In the tables that follow we present the data of the year ending February 29, 

 1909, and it will be noticed that in certain respects they differ markedly from those of 

 the preceding year. The difference lies chiefly in the much larger amounts of nitro- 

 gen found in the rain, more especially in the months of September and October. We 

 shall in the discussion of the data offer a reason that will, we believe, satisfactorily 

 account for this abnormal richness of the rain in ammonia last autumn. 



The monthly precipitations, the average amounts of nitrogen present as free am- 

 monia, albuminoid ammonia and nitrates and nitrites as obtained from the several 

 analyses, and the pounds of nitrogen furnished per acre, are set forth in the following 

 table : — ■ 



Rain and Snow at Ottawa, for the year ending February 28, 1909. 



Month and Year. 



1008. 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



1909. 



January 



February 



Total for 12 months 



Precipitation in Inches. 



Rain. 



•24 

 ■34 

 •46 

 ■31 



•77 

 •72 

 DO 

 28 

 •48 

 •21 



246 



•72 



22 99 96 25 



Snow. 



13 25 

 4^00 



10 00 

 41 75 



11 00 

 16 25 



Total 



as 

 Inches 



of 

 Rain. 



NiTKOGE.V. 



In llnAlbu- 

 Free ; niinoid 

 Am- Am- 

 monia, monia. 



■57 

 •74 

 •46 

 •31 

 •77 

 •72 

 •00 

 •28 

 •48 

 •^9 



3 56 

 235 



32 63 



p. p.m. 



262 

 702 

 492 

 288 

 453 

 638 

 839 

 531 

 337 

 267 



•266 

 •212 



p. p.m. 



•029 

 056 

 •058 

 •052 

 •052 

 •061 

 •716 

 •171 

 •129 

 063 



•124 

 043 



In 



Nitrates 



and 

 Nitrites 



p. p.m. 



•183 

 •374 

 •174 

 •194 

 •114 

 •208 

 •897 

 •551 

 •171 

 •148 



•129 

 •109 



Total. 



p. p.m. 



•474 

 132 

 724 

 •534 

 •619 

 •907 

 •452 

 •253 

 •637 

 •478 



•519 

 •364 



Pounds 

 of 



Nitro- 

 gen per 



Acre. 



•3S3 

 •446 

 •903 

 •159 

 •450 

 •354 

 •462 

 •197 

 •920 

 •476 



•420 

 •194 



8 364 



The amount of nitrogen in the rain and snow at Ottawa during the year, it will 

 be seen, was 8-364 lbs. per acre — practically twice the quantity found in the preceding 



•The reader is referred to this report (1908) for particulars respecting the method of 

 calculation and the proportions of the various nitrogen-compounds in the rain and snow 

 during; that period. 



