On the GrowtJt of Barleij hij different JSfaniLres, Sfc. 481 



records for the individual years, which are provided for full 

 reference in Tables I. to VIII. inclusive, we will now direct more 

 particular attention to Table IX., in which is given the mean 

 annual result over six consecutive years, of each of the twentv 

 descriptions of manure employed. 



Before entering upon the examination of the mean annual result 

 of the individual manures, it should be stated that, in the detailed 

 Tables, there is no evidence of any gradual either falling off, or 

 increase of result from year to year, such as should vitiate the 

 adoption of the average of the six years, as a measure of the 

 actual or comparative effects of the different manures. Thus, 

 the first two years were in many points very much alike in result, 

 and they agree very nearly with the average of the six. The 

 next two years, 1854 and 1855, but particularly the former, were 

 above the average in their amount of produce. Lastly, the fifth 

 ye;ir, 1856, was the worst of all ; and the present year, 1857, the 

 sixth in succession, was above the average on every point, and 

 nearly the best of the series on some. So far then the average 

 result of the six years may be taken, provided only that the 

 number and character of the seasons themselves are admitted to 

 afford a sufficient range, to indicate a fair average effect of the 

 different manures. How far results obtained by the use of the 

 same description of manure to the same crop grown on the same 

 land through a series of years consecutively, can afford an indi- 

 cation of the requirements of barley as grown ordinarily in rota- 

 tion, is of course a matter of separate consideration. 



The descriptions of the manures, and the quantities of them 

 employed, are partially given in the Tables, and the necessary 

 further explanations on these points will be found at p. 455. In 

 the Tables the twenty plots are divided into four classes, according 

 to the general character of their manures, as under : — 



1st Gauge Series — Comprising the unmanured portions, and a 

 portion manured with clay and weed ashes ; also the farmyard 

 manure plot. The mean result of the unmanured and ash por- 

 tions taken together, forms one — and that of the farmyard manure 

 another — standard of comparison, by which to judge of the effects 

 of the other manures. 



2nd Series — Mineral Manures only — Comprising three plots ; 

 one having '■'•Mixed Alkalies'"' (sulphates of potash, soda, and 

 magnesia); another Superphosphate of Lime ; and the third, both 

 the " Mixed Alkalies," and Superphosphate of Lime. The 

 results of this series should show us the extreme effect obtainable 

 from the available normal supplies of nitrogen (terrestrial and 

 atmospheric). They also serve as a point of comparison of the 

 effects of nitrogen artificially supplied in addition, as in the 

 follovv'in"- Series 3 and 4. 



