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AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 67 



An average crop takes of organic matter the following, iu 

 grain and straw : 



Carbon, - - 2259 Ibs. I Oxygen, - - 1923 Ibs. 



Hydrogen, - - 2&amp;lt;&amp;gt;2 &quot; I Nitrogen, - 2 *&amp;lt; 



or, as Ammonia, C3 Ibs. 



In consequence, it is found, in practice, that it is impossible 

 even upon the best wheat soils, to grow this grain for several 

 years in succession, without injuring the land; and, in most 

 ?.ases, the crop becoming so small as to be unprofitable. What 

 is taken away must be replaced cither -directly by manures, or 

 by growing other crops which do not require the chief constit 

 uents of wheat. 



175. There are many rich soils in the Western Slates, sucii 

 as Prairies, and River Bottoms, in which wheat runs to straw, 

 and produces very little grain. This is commonly said to be 

 owing to the land being &quot; too ricli^ but, in reality, it must be 

 in consequence of a deficiency of some constituents of the 

 wheat-; which judicious manuring would supply. We are not 

 aware that a comparative analysis of such lands lias been yet 

 made, but they will probably be found deficient in the alkalies 

 and lime. 



176. The manures for wheat necessarily vary according to 

 the nature of the soil, and the mode in which it has been crop 

 ped. It may, however, be stated as general proposition, that our 

 wheat lands appear deficient in ammonia, and that they cannot 

 fail to be benefltted by nitrogeneous manures, such as guano, 

 flesh, blood, sheep-dung, well-saved barn-yard manure, and such 

 like. 



There are probably few fields in the country in which the 

 &amp;lt;rop may not be greatly increased by judicious manuring ; and 

 very many that require manures to continue them at or brm&amp;lt;r 

 them up to their original fertility. 



177. It has been already stated (159,) that the composition 

 of wheat varies greatly according to the manure employexL 



