THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



91 



that period to rise, and how the inclination of 

 the corn market has been, in an equal degree, to 

 decline. Let us put in opposite columns the 

 prices obtained per stone of 8lbs. at the Metropol- 

 itan Market for prime Southdown mutton, and 

 the price per quarter of wheat, during tlie last 

 weeks in July, since the year 1840; they were as 

 follows : — 



During these 20 years, be it also remembered 

 that the population of our island has been 

 increasing steadily, at the rate of about 300,000 

 per annum (each person annually consuming 

 on an average, 75 lbs. of meat, and a qr., 

 of wheat), and that during these years while 

 the import of corn has been largely on the 

 increase, the supply of foreign live-stock has 



enlarged at a much slower rate. Let us put in 

 parallel columns the number of sheep and lambs 

 and the quarters of wheat imported during a few 

 of the years since 1849; the little table will thus 

 come out : 



Sheep and Lambs. Wheat. 



1847 136,527 2,650,058 



1848 128,093 2,594,013 



1855 156,646 2,667,702 



1856 135,588 4,072,833 



1858 177,207 3,437,957 



1859 184,482 .. 4,241,719 



So that while the imports of foreign wheat have 

 nearly doubled in amount since the years 1847 and 

 1843, the imports of sheep and lambs have, in 

 the same period, enlarged only about 25 per cent. 

 The laborious researches of Mr. J. B. Lawes 

 and Dr. Gilbert at Rothamsted in Hertfordshire 

 were with the object of ascertaining the best 

 dressings for the natural grasses, and moreover 

 to test the eiFect of the continued application of 

 the same manure to the same plot of ground for a 

 series of years. 



The following table will show to the reader the 

 average result of three years' application of the same 

 manure viz., in 1856, 1857, and 1858. The only 

 part of this statement that needs explanation is, 

 that the " mixed mineral manure " was composed 

 of— 



200 lbs. of bone ash, 

 150 lbs. of sulphuric acid, 

 300 lbs. of sulphate of potash, 

 200 lbs. of sulphate of soda, 

 100 lbs. of sulphate of magnesia. 

 In this table, which gives the experiments with 

 different manures on permanent meadow land, 

 the produce of hay per acre is given in tons, 

 cwts., qrs., and lbs. 



Manures per Acre, per Annum. 

 Series 1. — Without direct mineral manure. 

 Plot. 



1. Unmanured .. .. .. ,. 



2. Unmanured (duplicate plot) 



Average of 3 years* 



9. 

 10. 

 11. 



12. 



13. 

 14. 

 15. 



16. 

 17. 



Mean or standard unmanured . . 



2000 lbs. sawdust . . . . . . . . 



200 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia . . 



200 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia, and 2000 lbs. sawdust 



275 lbs. nitrate of soda .. .. ., .. ..(In 1858) 



550 lbs. nitrate of soda .. .. .. .. ..(In 1858) 



Series 2. — With direct mineral manure. 

 " Mixed mineral manure " 



" Mixed mineral manure," and 2000 lbs. sawdust 



" Mixed mineral manure," and 200 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia 

 " Mixed mineral manure," 200 lbs, each, sulphate and muriate ammonia, and 



2000 lbs. sawdust .. .. .. .. .. •■ 



"Mixed mineral manure," 200 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia, and 



2000 lbs. cut wheat straw . . 



" Mixed mineral manure," and 400 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia 

 " Mixed mineral manure," and 275 lbs. of nitrate of soda . • (In 1858) 



"Mixed mineral manure," and 550 lbs. of nitrate of soda . . (In 1858) 



Series 3. — With farm-yard manure. 

 14 tons farmyard manure .. 

 14 tons farmyard manure, and 100 lbs. each, sulphate and muriate ammonia 



The practical conclusions to which these scien- 

 tific and valuable explorations upon the improve- 



ments of grass land tend, is thus 

 authors :— 



