MANURES. 359 



signal success, unless its efficacy is suspended or defeated by 

 drought, or unless it comes in immediate contact with the plant, 

 when it proves fatal. It is never safely applied alone, and the 

 preferred mixture is a very liberal proportion of mould. Its 

 mixture with ashes, strongly recommended by some farmers, is, 

 as I have before observed, of questionable expediency. In Dev 

 onshire, I witnessed the most extraordinary effects from it, this 

 year, applied at the rate of about three hundred weight per acre, 

 upon grass land. The extreme luxuriance and richness of the 

 grass, where it was applied, were most remarkable, especially 

 when seen in contrast with parts of the field not guanoed. Nor 

 is its efficacy limited to one year, but continues for a length of 

 time as yet not determined. But were its obvious effects lim 

 ited to one year only, yet the increase of crops growing out of 

 its use furnishes, in itself, the means of greatly enriching the 

 farm. 



2. THE NITRATES. The nitrates of soda and of potash, from 

 which so much was at one time expected, because so much seemed 

 to have been obtained, are very little used. I found an excellent 

 farmer in Scotland, who applied the former with great success to 

 his potatoes, and I have found farmers in England, whose expe 

 rience seems to prove the excellent effects of both upon wheat : 

 but the fact that they have generally fallen into disuse indicates, 

 whether well founded or not, a strong distrust, of their efficacy. 

 One of their acknowledged effects, when applied to wheat, was 

 very much to increase the stalk, without proportionately increas 

 ing the grain. The adulterations in these articles have been, I 

 cannot say extraordinary, but flagrant and enormous. 



3. SOOT. Soot is applied, sometimes mixed in compost, at 

 the rate of about forty bushels per acre, and should be applied 

 early in the season. For potatoes, about half that quantity is 

 used, and is deposited in the drill with the seed. With wheat, 

 it is sown broadcast with clover and grass-seed, the ground 

 being first harrowed. It is sometimes sown alone, broadcast, 

 upon grass, and always with advantage. Its effect, however, 

 upon the cereal crops is, to increase the stalk without a corre 

 spondent increase of the grain. As it is proved not to diminish 

 the grain, this is to be considered a great point gained. 



