10 



and nitrogen determinations. There is also one un- 

 numbered plot (" intermediate "). 



There are thus 19 + 3 -I- 12 + 1 = 35 samples of 

 grain, and the same number of straw, annually taken. 

 A given weight of each is partially dried, and stored, 

 the grain in bottles, and the straw (cut into chaff) in 

 parcels, for determinations of nitrogen, &c., when 

 required. Duplicate portions of each sample (both 

 grain and straw), are dried in a water bath, and after- 

 wards burnt to ash. 



It is desirable to sample the produce as at present, at 

 least up to the end of the 40th year from 1852, namely 

 to 1891 inclusive. But, as 12 of the plots now divided 

 into " a" and " b" portions, although they have, respec- 

 tively, a slightly different past manurial history, have 

 for some time been substantially duplicates, it is 

 considered that the two divisions might, after the crop 

 of 1891, be thrown into one, both so far as separation 

 at harvest, and separate sampling, are concerned. These 

 12 plots are <-5ab, Qab, 7ab, Sab, llab, I2ab, 13ab, I4ab, 

 loab, IQab, 17 ab, and I8ab. This would reduce, both 

 the number of plots separately harvested, and the 

 number of samples of corn, and of straw, taken, from 

 35 each as at present, to 23 each. 



The nitrogen is not determined at once, but when 

 needed for purposes of study or publication. Thus, in 

 the case of a selection of plots, the nitrogen has been 

 determined, in the grain and in the straw, of each of 

 the first 20 years of the 48 of the experiments ; also in 

 the case of a number of selected plots, in 4 of the 

 same 20 years representing respectively, two good 

 and two bad seasons. It has been determined in 

 the case of 7 selected plots in proportionally mixed 

 samples of the grain, and of the straw respectively, of 

 the 20 years 1852-71 ; in the case of 13 selected 

 plots, in proportionally mixed samples of the graii., 

 and in that of 10 selected plots in proportionally mixed 

 samples of the straw, of the 10 years 1852-61 ; also in 

 the case of the grain of 13 selected plots, and of the 

 straw of 10, for the 10 years 1862-71 ; and in the case 



