EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 281 



at Rothamstead, in fair agricultural condition, cultivated as 

 bare fallows since the harvest of the previous year, 56.5, 

 58.8 and 59.9 pounds of nitrogen, as nitric acid, per acre, 

 were found in September or October to the depth of 27 

 inches. If the summer has been dry, the nitrates are 

 near the surface ; after much rain they are at a lower 

 level. 



Without farther discussion of these valuable and interest- 

 ing experiments, it will be clearly seen that the work of ex- 

 perimentation in this field of research can no longer be 

 retarded by the vague and indefinite problems presented by 

 former crude theories. From our present knowledge of the 

 process of nitrification, and of the relations of the elements 

 of fertility to the soil under different conditions, all of which 

 is largely owing to the remarkable series of experiments 

 conducted at Rothamstead for the past forty years, the lines 

 of investigation that give promise of immediately practical 

 results are well defined and can be readily followed. 



Experiments are now needed to determine the applica- 

 bility of the results obtained at Rothamstead to the different 

 climatic conditions that prevail in this country. That the 

 general relations of the plant-food to the soil are the same 

 cannot be doubted ; but we need information as to the modi- 

 fying influences of the varied conditions. 



Drainage Waters of the Experimental Corn Plats. 



In the selection and arrangement of the experimental corn 

 plats, as well as in the construction of the drains, particular 

 care has been taken to secure uniformity in all conditions 

 that could possibly have an influence on the composition of 

 the drainage waters. 



When the work of dio'orinor the trenches for the tiles was 

 begun, April 16, the soil was saturated with water within 

 about twelve inches of the surface. 



The water table was of course lowered 'as the drains were 

 laid, and for some time before the last laterals were finished. 

 May 10, the two-inch drains had stopped running, and there 

 was but little water even in the main drains. A heavv rain 

 fell on the night of May 21, and continued through the fol- 

 lowing day. 



