On tlie Groicth of Barley hj different Manures, Sfc. 479 



August had again very high maximum temperatures, but some- 

 what high minimum also, giving a high mean, and still a com- 

 paratively high range, and its fall of rain, though small, was 

 distiibuted ; in the third week the mean maximum temperatures 

 were unusually low, and the minimum moderately so, giving low 

 both mean and range, there was more or less rain every day, and 

 a very large total fall ; and lastly, the fourth week again averaged 

 very low maximum temperatures, but not low minimum, and had 

 but a small fall of rain, whilst almost throughout the month there 

 was a good deal of atmospheric moisture. Thus then, with some 

 very high maximum, and some very low minimum temperatures 

 during the first half of ihe mtmth (which was the last fortnight of 

 growth of the standing crop), little rain, but frequently a moist 

 atmosphere — then followed at the time of cutting with very low 

 temperatures, a very excessive fall of rain, and still a moist 

 atmosphere — we had a laid and sprouted crop. This season of 

 1856 was then one of very great vicissitudes, almost throughout 

 the important stages of the progress of the plant. Hence, as 

 Tables X. and XI. show, and as presently will be further seen, 

 we had the worst crop of any in the series, in every point, both 

 of quality and quantity of the produce. 



These few statements of the characters of the seasons most 

 contrasted in their effects upon the crop, will at any rate serve 

 to direct the mind of the reader upon the subject, and thus pre- 

 pare the way for a consideration of what are the actual amounts 

 of variation in the quantity and quality of the produce — with 

 equal conditions supplied at the cost of the farmer — due to that 

 uncontrollable influence, the loeather. 



Discussing then the actual amounts of variation in the quality 

 and quantity of the produce dependent upon variation of season^ 

 before going to that more peculiarly due to manuring, the Sum- 

 mary Table, Xo. Vm., will afford the facts for our illustration. 

 We have in that Table the mean produce for each of the years, 

 for each of five characteristic conditions of manuring, so that, 

 though not just now considering for themselves the effects of the 

 different manures, we shall nevertheless see to what extent the 

 respective seasons, compared one with another, maintain any 

 characteristic influence upon the crop under widely differing con- 

 ditions of manuring. 



Looking first to the mean unmanured produce, it is at once 

 observed that we have in some of the seasons twice as much, 

 both of corn and of straw, as in others. Thus, the total un- 

 manured produce (corn and straw together) is, in the very bad 

 season of 1856, only 1918 lbs. ; whereas in 1854 and in 1855 it is 

 more than twice, and in the other three years nearly twice as 

 much. The amount of dressed corn, without manure, in 1856, 



