280 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The soil of the drain-gauges at Rothamstead (of j^^q of 

 an acre in area), is uumanured and uncropped, representing 

 in fact the conditions of a bare fallow. The loss of nitrogen 

 in the drainage waters of the gauge, sixty inches deep, 

 amounted to 42.64 pounds per acre annually on the average 

 for five years. This loss was distributed as follows : — 



For the three months January-March, 

 For the three months April-June, 

 For the three months July-Sei^tember, 

 For the three months October-December, 



Total, 



9.92 pounds per acre. 



6.10 pounds per acre. 

 10.80 pounds per acre. 

 15.82 pounds per acre. 



42.64 pounds per acre. 



On land cropped continuously with wheat, the loss of 

 nitroffen in the drainaoje waters was estimated as follows : 

 On plats that received no nitrogenous manures, the average 

 loss for two seasons of excessive drainage was from 15 

 to 17 pounds of nitrogen per acre, while the average for 

 thirty years was from ten to twelve pounds per acre. 



Where from 43 to 129 pounds of nitrogen was applied in 

 the form of ammonia salts, the loss of nitrogen by drainage 

 was estimated at from 19 to 42.4 pounds per acre annually. 



These experiments with drainage waters have been sup- 

 plemented by an extended and systematic examination of the 

 soils. 



In the Hoos field, which has been alternately in wheat and 

 fallow since 1851 without manure, samples of the soil were 

 taken in September, 1878, with the following results : — 



The wheat had evidently taken up the nitrates as they had 

 been formed, and losses of nitrogen by drainage would not 

 be likely to take place until after harvest. " In three soils 



